Urban Impression
I just got one digital camera. I like take some photos to record the city and life here. It is a big pity that I just had a operation in hospital today. After I recover well, I will resume to take and post here.
I don't know where I should start to take. I think my most time is in my office and cellar, so I shot them. My offcie PC is HP. Thank XOXO for helping me edit the photos.
If you want to see some special photos, please let me know. I will try to take.
Billy, I hope you recover well from your operation.
I would like you to take pictures of places that you like, or things that you find interesting or beautiful ... just scenes of things that you may see everyday, but want to share with others.
I would like to see the neighborhood you live in.
I want to see the inside of your closet ;)
Women! Show us the women! :p
Oh, and I guess I'm curious about your neighborhood too. ;)
Cinema movie. I sometimes go to the cinema to see good movies. There are few good Chinese movies now. The tickets are expensive. Most people buy DVD to watch moives in home. So less and less people go to the cinemas.
There are the popular USA moives. But the casting drops behinds the USA. In the following pix, the first one is I, Robot. I will see it this week. The second pic is Ladder 49, The Bourne Supremacy and I, Robot. I watched the former two.
I live in this building. It was changed into apartments by company dorms. So the room size is very small. Most Chinese don't use dryers to heat up clothes. They put the clothes in the balconies. The windows look like ugly.
Billy, you're company bought that apartment building and turned it into a dormitory for employees? :confused:
Why the bars on the windows?
I guess this means I, Robot and Ladder 49 will be out on DVD soon then? <ducks and runs>
The piratical DVD will be out after the USA new movies come into boxes. So it easy to get the DVDs. One piratical DVD is about 8RMB(nearly 1$, 1$=8.3RMB). One movie ticket is about 60RMB(7$).
China want to oppose and limit the USA movies becaue we think the USA culture would erode our culture. It is a big pity that we cannot make out lots of good movies, such as Hero, to attract the fans.
The bars in windows are made for protecting the things in window. The clothes would fly away if the wind come. Of course, the thief cannot one in from windows.
Ago the company was a sate company. The buliding was built for the employees to live. The apartments were distributed to the old employees after the French Thomson joined. I rent one apartment to live in now.
Why the bars on the windows?
it's can protect home form thieves' visit :biggrin:
I don't know the name of trees. I pass the trees every day.
Is it me or does Will Smith look a bit different in that billboard for I Robot?
...I assume that guy *is* Will Smith and not another actor in the movie. I haven't actually seen it.
We think the thin arc eyebrow is the best for the women. In Canton the old women used one thread to make up eyebrow into arc for other women. Now some girls still want to to make up the eyebrow.
it's can protect home form thieves' visit
You guys must have some very creative and athletic theives if you have to put bars on the fourth story windows. :biggrin:
I like the motorcycle shot a lot, Billy!
We think the thin arc eyebrow is the best for the women. In Canton the old women used one thread to make up eyebrow into arc for other women. Now some girls still want to to make up the eyebrow.
Lots of women in the US have their brows shaped too, usually by waxing or tweezing, although threading is catching on in some of the nicer/trendier places.
Great pictures!
Why the bars on the windows?
Makes it more challenging if you want to fall out the window.
Jinx, threading?
Eric, It should be "the bars are for protecting the things in the windows FROM (not form) thieves". <grammar Nazi>
Some thieves can and will scale the balconies to get to upper floors. Most are dubbed "Spider Man" or some such silly moniker.
Brian
Jinx, threading?
<grammar nazi="">
Yup, removing hair with a cotton
thread.
</grammar>
You guys must have some very creative and athletic theives if you have to put bars on the fourth story windows.
I've seen thieves in vietnam scale a 4 story sheer wall and remove a bolted-in aircon unit while the owners, a layer of concrete away slept, they're good. They did it for a second hand aircon unit. These kind of bars are more for threats from above and the sides than the ground however.
Yup, removing hair with a cotton thread.
Oh thank God. I was seriously thinking he was referring to a physical stitch in the skin, pulling the eyebrow up into an arch like a sort of homemade facelift.
Billy, what's the bronze statue in post #15? It looks like a teacher and student. A famous teacher? :confused:
Billy, what's the bronze statue in post #15? It looks like a teacher and student. A famous teacher?
In the first pic the grandmother makes up the eyebrow for her granddaughter as you see in the second pic. I can treat you to make up you if you reallly want to have the thin arc eyebrow. :cool:
[FONT=Verdana]1=Old Chinese Wedding
2=Dragon dance [/FONT]
Women! Show us the women!
Do you like this woman? :)
Does your girlfriend know you're posting pictures of her on the internet, Billy? :)
I think somebody is playing a mean joke on kid #3 in the dragon dancing sculpture :)
Do you like this woman? :)
Yes!!! How much do you want for her? :D
She's very pretty, Billy, thank you for posting the pictures. Do you know her?
Do you know her?
I don't know her.
The pix were taken in Shan Xi, middle of China. I don't know how to explain. You ask me what you want to know.
wood vehicle. My dad has a similar wood vehicle. I cannot pull because it is hard to balance it.
That courtyard is beautiful, thank you very much for taking the time to post these pictures. I may never get to see China with my own eyes, so I really appreciate these. Keep 'em coming! :thumbsup:
That courtyard is beautiful, thank you very much for taking the time to post these pictures. I may never get to see China with my own eyes, so I really appreciate these. Keep 'em coming! :thumbsup:
You have the chance. Welcome to China. At least your eyes can travel by viewing the pix.
That is very poetic, Billy!
The pictures you are taking are beautiful, and show us parts of China that even if we came to visit we might not see.
What do the signs on the old building say? What was the building used for?
What do the signs on the old building say? What was the building used for?
The pix were sent by one my friend.
Ago ShanXi businessmen were rich and famous in China, even in East Asia. Some buinessmen had their banks. The pix were taken from Cao's house. He was a big businessman.
Great job, Billy. :thumbsup: We want to see it all. :)
Yeah,that is China,interesting and historied.
I'd like to say something about the bar on the window:
I lives on the 3rd floor(no bars on the window),1st&2nd floor have the bars on the window,thieves can get to the 3rd floor easily by climbing the bars on the windows on the 2nd floor,coz i had once done it to get the key to the door.
So,who set the bars,the man above will probably be unlucky.
We have different viewpoints from you about the Chinese things as you see the Western things. You can post what you think about the pictures.
The Water Lily were taken in one Beijing's park. We think the withe lily and green lotus leaves are the best in the gardens. Lotus is considered as the Man of Honour since the old dynasties.
1=Water Lily & Frogs
2=Water Lily & Goldfish
1=Beijing Moon
2=Beijing Dusk
My name is:
Timothy Ryan Saylors
It may be phonetic, but I would appreciate your help.
thx, BrianR, i always type the "from" to "form"..The two words r so similar ,i am sorry for that .
I don't like the bar completely, it's make the house more like a prison.but we must do that for security and i am very curious how u can protect home if there is not any bar and thieves can break into easily in American, can anybody tell me that?
thx, BrianR, i always type the "from" to "form"..The two words r so similar ,i am sorry for that .
I don't like the bar completely, it's make the house more like a prison.but we must do that for security and i am very curious how u can protect home if there is not any bar and thieves can break into easily in American, can anybody tell me that?
Hi Eric,
Don't you know? All Americans own a Chinese made Norinco AK-47, and in that way do not worry about home intrusions.
No really, I have a Mini-14 (.223 calibre semi-automatic rifle with 30-round clip, by any measure, a military class weapon, and I love my freedom to own it) and a couple of handguns (9mm and .25 calibre semi-automatics), and I'm in a low crime area (probably because the criminals know we have guns).
Tim
My name is:
Timothy Ryan Saylors
It may be phonetic, but I would appreciate your help.
Personally speaking, it is good to be
蒂莫西·瑞恩·赛勒斯. I will post it in Chinese Translation Forums for help.
...and a couple of handguns (9mm and .25 calibre semi-automatics)...
And you call yourself a Texan? No true red blooded, God fearin', gun totin' American would dare admit to owning a .25 caliber peashooter. That's what the thieves carry.
(Unless of course that's your drop piece for when you blow the otherwise unarmed thieve's head off with the mini when he's creeping through your bedroom window...then it's okay.) ;)
Eric, there are bars on the windows of the toughest city areas in America, but most of the country simply doesn't have to fear burglars. Like Nothing But Net said, there's always the possibility the homeowner has a gun (and legally the homeowner will have every right to shoot you if you break into his home.)
In addition, the stuff in people's houses just isn't likely to be worth enough money to bother robbing it. You can only pawn a television set for $20 or so, and if they think it's stolen no pawn shop will want to take it (because the police will take it away if they find out it's stolen, and the pawn shop owner will not get his money back.)
I've known two people who had break-ins, and both times the thief took only a single, very expensive item, because they knew it was there--they'd heard my friends talking about it or saw them bring it in the house.
(and legally the homeowner will have every right to shoot you if you break into his home.)
I think that'd only be legal in Texas.
Really? I thought for sure any state where you could have a gun in your home (with a license, of course) you would be able to use it in self-defense.
Sometimes, though, it's not automatically self defense if the guy's in your home.
Pretty good evidence, but not automatic.
(and legally the homeowner will have every right to shoot you if you break into his home.)
I think that'd only be legal in Texas.
Louisiana gives you that right in your home as well as for car jacking.
Georgia tried to pass a law four years ago permitting you to shoot anyone who broke into your home, threatening or not, but it failed. Most states, including Florida, don't permit you to shoot someone just for breaking and entering -- your life must be in danger and the burgular must have a weapon and be threatening you with it. I think it really depends on the police investigating the incident, however. In Atlanta five or six years ago, it made the news that a man woke up to find someone trying to steal his car. The car owner pulled a rifle, shot the man from the safety of his home, and killed the would be thief. Police arrived on the scene, looked around, arrested no one. When the chief was confronted by the family of the car theif expecting that the owner of the car should be arrested for manslaughter, he responded, "Well, I guess he would have lived if he hadn't been stealing someone's car."
Carjacking is a different matter because the "castle law" does not apply. If someone is trying to carjack you in Florida or most other states, your first response had better be to step on the gas and drive away or get out of the car and run like hell as you do not have the same rights as being in your home. You may only pull a gun if you intend to use it to kill the criminal and you may only do that if you absolutely no means of escape. Only in a house do you have the right to stand your ground and not flee.
I highly recommend the book Florida Firearms by Jon H. Gutmacher if you have a CCW in Florida -- its an important read and I hope other states have similar books that discuss the law, sample cases, etc. Some of the sample cases are damn scary and show that you can easily have murder charges pressed against you, and be convicted, even if you were properly defending yourself.
All I know is that I'm keeping my car.
There was a legitimate reason that they used to hang horse thieves.
Those of you who live in a major metropolis might be able to get around with public transit, but people who don't live in a city of sufficient size are unable survive without a car.
Texas is one of the few states that allows you to shoot to protect property.
Most states require that you be in fear of loss of your life or grievous injury to shoot an intruder.
Pennsylvania is that way.
Belief that the intruder intended rape, incidently, would qualify as grounds to shoot.
There are a couple of other little niceties to the law that are important to be aware of, including that you can't shoot an intruder when he/she is fleeing.
Some states require that the homeowner make all attempts to retreat before firing. (Basically you have to let the guy who wants to kill you back you into a corner before you shoot so that it's justified.)
The majority of "defensive uses of firearms" don't involve firing a shot.
And I have the crazy Texan Outgunned. (not the mildly weird one, though. I've seen pictures.)
(there is a .pdf document called
"Gun Facts" that has a lot of information about firearms and their use in the US. Defensive uses is covered on page 31.
thx, BrianR, i always type the "from" to "form"..The two words r so similar ,i am sorry for that .
I don't like the bar completely, it's make the house more like a prison.but we must do that for security and i am very curious how u can protect home if there is not any bar and thieves can break into easily in American, can anybody tell me that?
Sure. I do it like this:
It sounds like that your gun protection method is much more dangerous than our window bars. The more protection methods you use, the more stealing tools the thief make, such as "911".
I think that'd only be legal in Texas.
And South Carolina
Condon said the case law in South Carolina "gives iron-clad protection to the citizen in safeguarding his or her home. Inside the citizen's home, there are no legal technicalities for the criminal to rely on." Force even deadly force may be used, ruled the Court, "if such degree of force be reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose of preventing a forcible entry against his will."
Ago I could not understand why many people want to travel Tibet because the trip is very tired and a little dangerous. I know the reason when I see these good pix.
1=Lhasa River
2=Figure of Buddha
You're cheating Billy, we want to see pictures you take. ;)
In handling intruders in your home, they repercussions are generally your word against his/hers. Dead men tell no tales. :cool:
Sure. I do it like this:
yeah. a very awful dog.is it your pet?but i think the gun is more useful
You're cheating Billy, we want to see pictures you take.
Sorry. I cannot go out because of the operation. So I posted the pix that my friends sent me. I will try to take after I recover well.
I will edit and post the pix that I took in last trip in October.
Hi Eric,
Don't you know? All Americans own a Chinese made Norinco AK-47, and in that way do not worry about home intrusions.
Tim
:biggrin: Ak-47 is a terrorist's standard equipment, powerful fire, cheap and very bad accuracy.so the security force don't use this weapon, they more like the Mp5..and i don't think you own it at your home because when you shooting an intruder, maybe the bullet can through the wall and kill your neighborhood in his bed and the intruder has run away as fast as he can :eek:
KaiPing LiYuan Garden. YuPei Villa is romantic in the big Garden to memorialize the garden master's dead wife.
Built it in 1926-1936, the area of projection of the building: 64 square meters, 12.8 meters are *5 meters, it is 5 layers high. With garden main infant name "whether Yu bank up with earth" name, for commemorating and like concubine Tan jade of Great Britains' building, four layer respectively for imitating by China Gu Shi, Japan getting into bed types, Italy hiding types, Rome palace type. Ground construct four "heart" round case that connect together, express garden main fact to 4 madam their hearts are like one's wholehearted response ingenious.
1=YuPei Villa
2=Hostess' Dresser The hostess' figure looks like a big Shanghai star in 1920s. She is the master's third wife and the most beautiful. The villa was built after she died.
The incense and the heating oven wait for hostess to come. I stood there and stared at the room to imagine.
1=Hostess Figure
2=Heating Oven
Beautiful pics Billy !!!!!! :)
Bars on windows - Bars on windows DO help keep robbers out , BUT , and this is a BIG BUT , if there is a fire you CAN'T jump out of the window !!!!!!!! Yes most mfgrs do supply a wrench to open the window incase of a fire , BUT who is thinking when they are woken up by smoke filling a room in the middle of the nite ?????
Guns and home defence - In Arkansas you can defend your PROPERTY as in your WHOLE porperty , yard and all , just don't use to much force . I do feel sorry for any body that breaks in to our house with us here , they WILL get a sudden case of lead poisining !!!!!
:biggrin:...and i don't think you own it at your home because when you shooting an intruder, maybe the bullet can through the wall and kill your neighborhood in his bed and the intruder has run away as fast as he can :eek:
The optimal home defense weapon is the shotgun loaded with birdshot. Just the mere sight of it will scare most intruders off. And if it's dark, the sound of aggressively racking one in the chamber should do the trick. If the uninvited guest is still persistent on doing you harm, let one fly in his direction. The birdshots spread is bound to hit some flesh and usually wont penetrate more than one wall.
:biggrin: Ak-47 is a terrorist's standard equipment, powerful fire, cheap and very bad accuracy.so the security force don't use this weapon, they more like the Mp5..and i don't think you own it at your home because when you shooting an intruder, maybe the bullet can through the wall and kill your neighborhood in his bed and the intruder has run away as fast as he can :eek:
Eric, I really don't own an AK-47, that was a joke. But making the criminal run is the desired result. All I can say is the ends usually justify the means, as long as you don't hurt anyone else.
The optimal home defense weapon is the shotgun loaded with birdshot. Just the mere sight of it will scare most intruders off. And if it's dark, the sound of aggressively racking one in the chamber should do the trick. If the uninvited guest is still persistent on doing you harm, let one fly in his direction. The birdshots spread is bound to hit some flesh and usually wont penetrate more than one wall.
good idea. and i think it never need any aim at when you shoot because of it's spreading range.
Eric, I really don't own an AK-47, that was a joke. But making the criminal run is the desired result. All I can say is the ends usually justify the means, as long as you don't hurt anyone else.
yep. To hurt some one is the badest choice if we can avoid it.
The carved woodbed is a good Chinese traditional bed. On bed there is a little broken goose feather fan that hostess uesed ago.Under the bed there are two couples of shoes. From her room, the hostess had the high quality life.
Sometimes the master played the Chinese mah-jong at table with families.
Guest Room.From the chairs, the master invited many guests to home.
1=Kwan-yin
2=Droplight
Most Chinese women, including my mother, believe the Kwan-yin. I feel that the light remembers the stories and history.
Flower Vine PavilionBuild on 1926-1936 year, occupation of land area amounts to 150 square meters. Top imitative empress of British Jin Guan build, four walls make the reinforced concrete into the open colorful cage. Four various kinds of last will it be four seasons spring, summer, autumn or winter rattan wooden flowers according to legend, climb pavilion, The flower opened and was not stopped throughout the year, the guest smelt the fragrance of flowers firstly before entering the garden in that year. Pavilion have pond is according to legend for raise tortoise pool, incline with pavilion bird nest interrelates, The brightness of flowers and birdsongs of implied meaning, the flower turns on rich and powerfully.
I like this Pavilion very much. It looks like a bamboo pavilion.
The pavilion stands, but all the masters past away.
The Incense Oven still works when I came.
Wonderful pictures, Billy! Thanks for posting them. I very much hope to visit China someday. :)
I like the pavilion too.
The geometry of the roof is interesting. The "rafters" aren't spaced evenly around the center point of the roof. The roof covers a rectagular room, so as it reaches the apex, the angles of the rafters aren't quite identical. But they are symmetrical. The lattice covering of the roof looks awkward the way it lines up against the rafters. It probably looks fine from the inside as long as you don't look up and stare directly at it. A symmetrical lattice would have been very difficult to pull off.
I'm still waiting for more pictures of beautiful women.
Most Chinese women, including my mother, believe the Kwan-yin.
What is the Kwan-yin? Is it the female figure? What is the belief? Is this a common figurine?
I feel that the light remembers the stories and history.
That is very poetic. Does this lantern have something to do with Kwan-yin too, or was it just a lovely thing in the same room?
What is the Kwan-yin? Is it the female figure? What is the belief?Is this a common oblate?
Kwan-yin was men, but afterward she changed into woman. I cannot remember the story now. She was a good Buddhist of Buddhism Founder. Many Buddhists oblate the oblate in homes and temples.
That is very poetic. Does this lantern have something to do with Kwan-yin too, or was it just a lovely thing in the same room?
The lantern is used to light up in the room ago and has nothing with the Kwan-yin.
Build to 1926-1936, the occupation of land amounts to 126 square meters, among them the birdcage takes up an area of 63 square meters, Top floor modelled after an antique Rome type, China section adopt China folk art paper-cut coherent to spend case round, Make i nto cement coherent to spend window, appearance wash stone rice, whole s of building Chinese and Western match well, Novel and unique, bird nest with shaddock wooden bezel, stainless steel network enclose copy, the middle builds one pond, It build rockery one, it raise and there will be peacock, brother, cured mouth bird ……The bird's twitter is like the song, fascinating.
There were lots of birds when the master lived ago. No bird lives and sing now.
Sedan Chair Ago the emperors, officers, rich people took sedan chair as traffic tool. In the wedding, the bride also sit on the sedan chair from her home to husband's home. The SC in this pic is a wedding chair.
Bellows I don't know the bellows's function becasue I just see here.
More lantern All the master's children and the last wife of the master live in the USA now.
Coir Rincoat Ago the Cinese people use this raincoats in rain. I knew it in Chinese books when I was young.
Couplet There are the tablets at the gate and room walls to show the masters' personalities. In Chinese New Year we also put the red couplet on the gate walls.
The Chinese New Year is coming. Please let me know if you want to get the Chinese style cards. I am glad to post you.
Kwan Yin Restaurant
1603 W Pearce Blvd
Wentzville, MO 63385
(636) 327-8000
Kwan Yin is a Bodhisattva, known as the goddess of compassion. She has a very wide appeal that crosses all religions, because she represents a very universal theme.
We have a stunning example in the Nelson-Atkins Museum here in KC...
http://www.nelson-atkins.org/collections/asian/detail/bodhisat.htm
...although the photo scarcely does it justice. I can't even tell you how many people I have talked to over the years who have said that sitting before this amazing work in its perfect setting has brought immense peace and serenity to them. It is absolutely true. There is a palpable sense of calm, renewal and love in this part of the gallery. I've felt it all my life, but only after becoming Pagan was I able to understand what was happening.
A very, very powerful deity is Kwan Yin.
Gate with Couplets. There are two couplets with in two different sides. I did not take the other similar gate.
Ancient Furniture in Panlilou Villa, most important villa in the big house.
Panlilou Villa. Built it in April of 1931, the area of projection of the building is 146 square meters, 11.6M x 12.6M, The floor is three and a half stories high. Floor name that garden thank and link and stand gentleman draw his father thank holy to melt and one's own name unite pearls and succeed mainly, Garden main fact and four madam life in the center of daily life. Its rooftop China ancient type glazed tiles layers of eaves building, and ingenious in impracticable to become and insulate against heat layer. Indoor ground and stair all Italian color stone, wall fitting China ancient personage story for large-scale mural painting, relief and paint gold wood carving of subject matter. Each layer put Western-style fireplace, hang ancient type lamp decoration, furnish graceful sour pieces of ancient type furniture, Edible water and hygiene facility import from foreign countries, but partial view overseas Chinese life situation of daily life of 70 year.
Traditional Chinese painting. Last weekend I happened to see the painting exhibition. To be frank, I also cannot understand the paitings. Can you see something from the drawing?
The top looks like mountains with occasional trees and houses, and the bottom looks like red flowers on a tree branch. Doesn't quite look like a cherry blossom tree though.
Unless you're referring to an emotional reaction from these paintings, in which case, yes, they evoke tranquility to me.
The top one looks like a fog-enshrouded mountain valley.
The Mountain is in the fog and cloud. In the bottom there are chrysanthemum, megranate, lotus and cherry.
To be frank, I also cannot understand the paitings. Can you see something from the drawing?
What did you mean when you said this, Billy?
To be frank, I also cannot understand the paitings. Can you see something from the drawing?
What did you mean when you said this, Billy?
I don't know how to judge the beauty of the paintings and what the painter want to express.
Its been my experience that often painters are not intending to express one exact thing, particularly when their images are more loose or abstracted. Many are hoping their work inspires an emotional response, personal reflection and curiosity- viewers make the meaning, based on what they bring and know. Of course, sometimes you know alot about the context in which something was made, sometimes not so much!
I wonder if the landscape is based on a real, recognizable place, or references a work of poetry or other literature. I wonder if the multiple panels tell a story, what the calligraphy says. And I wonder if there is some sort of cultural symbolism attached to the series of 4 plants depicted. Seasons? Blessings?
Traditional Chinese painting. Last weekend I happened to see the painting exhibition. To be frank, I also cannot understand the paitings. Can you see something from the drawing?
They are previews from the next episode of
Survivor.
I wonder if the landscape is based on a real, recognizable place, or references a work of poetry or other literature. I wonder if the multiple panels tell a story, what the calligraphy says. And I wonder if there is some sort of cultural symbolism attached to the series of 4 plants depicted. Seasons? Blessings?
The first landscape is really based on Jigong Mountain. The four plants present four personalities.
Maid-in-Waiting. She became old and still served in the Place. She sit on the chair alone. The olny task is to wait for the death.
That is very beautiful. the explanation makes it possible to understand the hunched sadness of the woman.
The small number of brush strokes makes a very powerful statement.
Do the strokes which form the chair also form a word in calligraphy? It looks as though it might ... if it does, what does it say?
Gee Wolf just when I think you are a gun totting bad ass with the educational background and career that gives you all the more reason to shoot people you go and say something deep. Though I do agree with your thoughts on the painting. I am always amazed how a few simple strokes convey so much.
God Damn....that's a depressing painting. The old maid schoolmarm that never had time for children of her own, the old soldier that preserved other's lifestyles so well he had no life, the reward for years of selfless dedication is emptiness. :(
I cannot believe that you like this drawing so much. I also don't know if the chair presents something. Maybe the drawer knows it.
The following is the lotus in four seasones. The first is a bird singing on the green lotos. The second is the flower of lotus. The third is the fruit of lotus. The fourth is a bird singing on the sapless lotus.
Perhaps I'm just not as *cultured* as Wolf and Bruce but these paintings look like ink blot tests to me. :o
You're fine, just so long as you don't claim to see movement in still pictures, and oh yeah, never tell about the dismembered body parts, especially sexual ones. Or blood.
Although sometimes that's the "popular" answer. I can't tell you on what cards though. The psychology mafia will come after me ...
Gee Wolf just when I think you are a gun totting bad ass with the educational background and career that gives you all the more reason to shoot people you go and say something deep.
I'm not a real doctor, but I do have a Master's Degree ... ;)
What can I say, I'm well-rounded.
I also crochet doilies. Keeps me balanced.
I agree with the others, the Maid in Waiting painting is beautiful. The colors are so delicate and feminine, and they become even more so when applied in a wash like that. I especially like the abstract quality of the chair, how the three-dimensions are laid flat, not from lack of skill, but for artistic purposes. (and people thought Picasso did it first) ;)
Billy, is your description of the painting based on the writing on the upper right of the painting, or does that say something else?
Billy, is your description of the painting based on the writing on the upper right of the painting, or does that say something else?
My words were based on the painting. The Chinese ink drawing is very different the western canvas.
Do the strokes which form the chair also form a word in calligraphy? It looks as though it might ... if it does, what does it say?
wolf. it isn't chinese word. it say nothing , just use some simple strokers to describe a chair. nothing more :biggrin:
It is still beautifully rendered.
Sliding Weight of a Steelyard. This copper sculpture is at the center of East Gate shopping street in Shenzhen. It warns that the stors must have good professional morality, not cheat on the clients.
East Gate shopping street. There are crowded of people. As you see, the USA chain stores have invaded every Chinese big city.
Skyscraper The two high skyscrapers in Shenzhen, China. The right is the highest in Guangdong province, China.
Billy , i was woundering just what all Sliding Weight of a Steelyard said .
I am in the weights and measure business .
I don't think that's a real weight, Zip. Just a copper sculpture in the shape of a steel yard weight. :)
Bruce , i can tell from the copper representation of the rope that it IS a sculpture . Besides copper is not acceptable for a test weight it is to soft and to thermily unstable .
For you folks that don't know a steelyard weight is the weight that is slid along a scale to determin the weight .
http://www.ham.muohio.edu/ent/egr303/weighing_machine.html
I was just woundering what was written on it , ya know something like " Don't cheat your customers or the Emperor will have your head cut off !"
I was just woundering what was written on it
The words is how to identify the scales on steelyard. To be frank, I cannot understand the steelyard. My mom taught me three times, but I still forget how to read it.
Billy sir, I think you are most crazyman. But here we think big!
I used to want to go the china but then it was too expensive.
But now that I know you I can go there and stay with your hotel?
I like you very much so its ok. We can all be friends from foreign countries.
sir,
Thats ok billy , I looked around some and found this artical that explaine EVERY thing about a steel yard . I may try to build on one day .
http://mech-history.ihns.ac.cn/papers/zhang10-e/zhang10.htm1=Santa Claus with Mobile Phone
2=
China Unicom Service
I went to see the Exhabition in
Guangdong Museum of Art today. It was a big pity that my DC battery power was off. Or I could take more pix.
1=Drawing on Electric Bulb
2=Lamp designed by ChildrenThe world continues as always to require an open China. At the same time China is trying to harmonize with the international world with an enthusiasm rarely seen in the country¡¯s history as numerous people learn to not only to speak English but also earn their MBA.
Ah ha, MBAs, so China is positioning itself to destroy it's industry and businesses. :lol:
Interesting museum, Billy. :thumbsup:
I went to see the Exhabition in Guangdong Museum of Art today. It was a big pity that my DC battery power was off. Or I could take more pix.
1=Drawing on Electric Bulb
2=Lamp designed by Children
It may be my morbid streak, but is that a *skull* in the first piece, 'The Electric Bulb'? As for the second...the white 'Lamp' looks suspiciously like a commode.
[size=1](I don't think I've ever been so glad that Freud is no longer alive) ;) [/size]Drawing on Beer Bottles
Was the second Beer Bottle picture taken while your battery was dying, or was that a really cool-looking PhotoShop effect?
I love all of these pics you've sent in this last group (and in the others) They are so colorful, like the lamps (excluding the toilet-looking one), and the light, and I certainly never would have expected to see painted beer bottles. Too bad you weren't able to get a close-up, but since you got that cool motion trail, I'm happy. :)
I think my favorites so far have been the eldery woman in the painting, dressed in delicate shades of pinks and greens, with nothing to do but await her death. My other favorites I can't narrow down between the statues...they are everywhere, and in a LOT better shape than any that are here in the US, and the ones in the US, sadly enough, are newer. :(
Man of Straw
The beer bottle picture's bad effect was made by my DC.
It may be my morbid streak, but is that a *skull* in the first piece, 'The Electric Bulb'?
Bottom right looks like two skull and crossbones to me. :thumbsup:
Billy, it that rice straw they were using?
Could be this. Looks kinda like a skull to me.
Too much neck. More like a ghost or earless panda. :biggrin:
Billy, it that rice straw they were using?
Sure.
BrideWorker
Defend Motherland from Japanese Army
The drawing was made by a famous Chinese artist in China. I like it very much because it shows the tradditional Chinese men's characters.
Is that a photograph of the original drawing or the drawing itself under glass?
It's a really cool drawing. :)
Billy, I just discovered this thread. Thank you very much for sharing your pictures with us - please post more.
Do you live in Shengjen? I have a friend who was there recently for a few months teaching English to schoolchildren.
Is that a photograph of the original drawing or the drawing itself under glass?
It's a really cool drawing.
Thank you. I think this drawing is a photograph of the original drawing. It is just a background for the pottery.
Billy, I just discovered this thread. Thank you very much for sharing your pictures with us - please post more.
Do you live in Shengjen? I have a friend who was there recently for a few months teaching English to schoolchildren.
I will try to post more if you like.
Did you mean that your friend was working in Shenzhen?You can let him contact me if he works there and need any help. Hope him to have a good work time here.
I will try to post more if you like.
Did you mean that your friend was working in Shenzhen?You can let him contact me if he works there and need any help. Hope him to have a good work time here.
My friend is back home in Scotland now, but she was living and teaching in Shenzhen earlier this year. She enjoyed the experience very much.
I went to HK on 2, Jan. I took some photos in the Koolown.
1=The Peninsula Hotel
2=Victoria Light Tower
Ahh HK , i loved it BOTH times i was there !!!!! Just don't miss the last ferry from the Kooloon side , EXPENSIVE taxi ride !!!!!
Golden Movie Award
Jackie Chan
Bruce Lee [for XOXO]
Jackie Chan
Any reason Chow Yun Fat didn't want to put a handprint in his star?
Any reason Chow Yun Fat didn't want to put a handprint in his star?
I don't know. I think he will do it soon. He did not recently casted good movie in the USA.
Could be this. Looks kinda like a skull to me.
Yeah, that was the skull I was seeing. It reminds me of a "Day of the Dead/Dia del Muerte" skull. I don't see the skull and crossbones unless I try.
Billy, these are fantastic images but (and) I am just as interested in more everyday things like peoples homes, gardens, the back streets, corner shops ... if it's not too intrusive. Please. Anyway, keep on posting - it's a privilege to see China and Hong Kong through your camera. Thank you.
Yeah, good job Billy. Was that a tribute to the movie makers/business?
You should have had someone take a wide shot of you sitting the directors chair with all the statues in it. :biggrin:
Billy, these are fantastic images but (and) I am just as interested in more everyday things like peoples homes, gardens, the back streets, corner shops ... if it's not too intrusive. Please.
Sorry, last time I had little time in HK, so I just stayed in Koolow. I will try to take what you want next time.
Yeah, good job Billy. Was that a tribute to the movie makers/business?
You should have had someone take a wide shot of you sitting the directors chair with all the statues in it.
I took some photos there but I didnot post them here. I thought you didn't like see a ugly guy. :p
Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
Yeah, good job Billy. Was that a tribute to the movie makers/business?
You should have had someone take a wide shot of you sitting the directors chair with all the statues in it.
I took some photos there but I didnot post them here. I thought you didn't like see a ugly guy.
Oh come on Billy ,,,, Don't be a chicken shit !!!
That last Central pic is what i rember most about HK , sitting on the filght deck of a LPD in HK harbor , the ship swaying slightly in the current , sipping a cup of coffie and watching the sun rise over HK . :) :)
Ahh the memories :)
One Lane in Tai Po Market
The streets are very clean for a market district. :)
One big small restaurant zone. There are many small restaurants in one food market of the community. The food is cheap so the people often have food there. I had Japanese noodles for lunch there.
I don't know if I should post these good calendars becasue they are not made by me. I will not post the rest if you don't like. I can send to your email if anyone wants to get the big pix.
Hi Everyone,
I thought this was beautiful and wanted you guys to see the sunset from my front yard.
Great sunset, Undone! :thumbsup:
Hey Billy, one of your pictures was featured on the
Earth Science Picture of the Day web site today! :thumbsup:
Hey Billy, one of your pictures was featured on the Earth Science Picture of the Day web site today! :thumbsup:
Thanks. The Central is often featured in the media. Welcome you to visit it one day.
BJ Road is the big business center in Guangzhou. There are lots of costume stores, bookshops, restaurants and other stores. In reconstruction in 2002, the people dug up one buildings foundations more than 1000 years old, which is covered by thick glass, so I cant take the clear photos.
Lotus Palace Lantern. The Chinese New Year is coming, so many stores are decorated with Chinese style things.
I don't know when I can have my kids.
Fortune Boat There are many fortune symbolizations on the boat.
Mammon
Old Golden Money I don't know its English name.
I like the last KID very much. He is very lovely. The pix are not so clear after edit. can ask me for the original photos.
Billy, thank you for yet more great pictures.
When you say "I don't know when I can have my kids." what do you mean?
I think he means he has to meet a girl and get married first and he doesn't know when that will happen. :)
Hey Billy, Happy New Year! :thumbsup:
Doesn't the Chinese government still control when and how many children a couple can have?
Well 2005 is the year of the Cock. :blush:
Ya HADDA go and mention that, didn't ya? I was holding off myself.
I was holding off myself.
TMI Dude TMI !!!!!!!
TMI Dude TMI !!!!!!!
What about, Three Mile Island? :p
Doesn't the Chinese government still control when and how many children a couple can have?
The Chinese legal marriage age: male: 22; female: 20. They can have child after the marriage.
I cant find the ideal girl to marry now. In China the single cant adopt children.
I returned to work today from my trip to home town. It is very good that I happened to the snow. I took some pix in home town. Hope you can know some about China.
My house. It has been built for 25 years old. I spent almost all young time there.
Goose & duck
They were dirty because they did not go to swim in pool for a long time in winter.
Long narrow lane. the left yard is my house.
Billy, I love to look at these images of your country.
wasn't an image posted on this thread of a man being followed by hundreds of ducks? Does anyone know which page it was on? It takes about 5 minutes for my dial up to load each page, so I'm wondering if any of you dsl or cable or T1 folks can post a link to those images.
Thanks
Billy, What is this small building, and why are there holes built into the wall?
Billy, I love the pictures of your house. More, more! Here's my house in return!
(not exactly urban images, I agree!)
I love your pictures, Billy! I REALLY need to plan a trip to China--I've always wanted to go. And limey, your house is beautiful--you guys are making me want to travel again! :thumbsup:
Billy, What is this small building, and why are there holes built into the wall?
In Chinese architecture, we hope to make the yard much sight. This wall has 3 functions: 1). Prevent to directly see the inner yard. 2). Protect the inside privacy. 3). Add the yard beauty.
The holes decorate the wall and have no specific function.
Wasn't an image posted on this thread of a man being followed by hundreds of ducks? Does anyone know which page it was on? It takes about 5 minutes for my dial up to load each page, so I'm wondering if any of you dsl or cable or T1 folks can post a link to those images
Sorry, I have no my blog to post on the pix. I think it would be better to apply one blog and post them there. I will try. I will inform you as soon as I get.
Thank you.
Welcome back Billy. What is the covering material on the flat roof? It looks like some kind of rubber. :)
btw 3foot, that picture wasn't in this thread. :(
wasn't an image posted on this thread of a man being followed by hundreds of ducks? Does anyone know which page it was on?
Thanks
Do you meen this ,
http://www.cellar.org/showthread.php?t=5661&page=4&pp=15
It was just me being a smart ass .
I have a larger version some where if you want .
[snip] ...And limey, your house is beautiful--you guys are making me want to travel again! :thumbsup:
Why, thank you! :blush:
Thanks Zippyt, that was the image.
SWMBO is always talking about "getting her ducks in a row"
I'm gonna print it out and hang it over her desk.
The Chinese legal marriage age: male: 22; female: 20. They can have child after the marriage.
I cant find the ideal girl to marry now. In China the single cant adopt children.
What happens if an 18-year-old girl gets pregnant? Is she required by law to have an abortion?
Welcome back Billy.What is the covering material on the flat roof? It looks like some kind of rubber.
Thank you. Now I am in Bangkok, Thailand.
You are right, and it is the rubber. My dad put it on because my house roof leaks rain in summer.
What happens if an 18-year-old girl gets pregnant? Is she required by law to have an abortion?
She must have an abotion if the goverment check her out. She cannt have the birth in hospital if she misses the checkup. The hospital need the marriage certification and ID Card. They would not help her if they find that she is under 20 years old.
What are you doing in Bangkok, business trip or sex tour? :blush:
What are you doing in Bangkok, business trip or sex tour?
Business trip? No. Or sex tour? No! No! I don't want to see the Ladyboys.
I think it is my Wat (temple) trip this time. I cna post the pix in this trip if you want see.
She must have an abotion if the goverment check her out. She cannt have the birth in hospital if she misses the checkup. The hospital need the marriage certification and ID Card. They would not help her if they find that she is under 20 years old.
What a fantastic country. Proud and unsettling that my background is deeply rooted there, even though my great-great-grandparents fled long before they filled the place knee-deep in poo.
What are you doing in Bangkok, business trip or sex tour?
Bangkok is a fabulous place. I recommend it to anyone who is considering a trip to Asia. I love telling people how my parents, their friends and I went to a massage parlor and got a two-hour session for about $3.
No, it was not one of *those* places. I went there with my brother the next night. :cool:
I found an amateur photographer named Vlado Marinkovic from Serbia who has a website with his work. Check out his stunning pictures of
China.
I was very impressed with all this guys work. :)
I agree Bruce, some excellent pictures on that site. I especially like the reflections pictures, gave some inspiration. :thumbsup:
[snip] ... I can post the pix in this trip if you want see.
Yes, please Billy! More pics!
What a fantastic country. Proud and unsettling that my background is deeply rooted there, even though my great-great-grandparents fled long before they filled the place knee-deep in poo.
We need only look at China when our own totalitarians both left and right ask us to hand over our personal responsibility for the greater good. All that wonderful culture sacrificed...
I will post the pix in my trip to Bangkok.
Vendor Shops on wheels keep the economy moving. They are all over the city.
Lottery Vendor of Inability
Goods for Worship
Business trip? No. Or sex tour? No! No! I don't want to see the Ladyboys.
I think it is my Wat (temple) trip this time. I cna post the pix in this trip if you want see.
I would really enjoy seeing any and all temple pictures. Are you going to Angkor? It is one of my fondest hopes to go there some day.
One of Thailand's most revered temples,
Wat Phra Kaew is located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace. This Royal temple contains an exquisite Emerald Buddha which dates back to around the 14th century.
No one is allowed near the Buddha which is raised high on a series of platforms, except H.M. King. A seasonal cloak, changed three times a year to correspond to the summer, winter, and rainy season covers the statue. A very important ritual, the changing of the robes is performed only by the King to bring good fortune to the country during each season. The temple is beautifully decorated and has a great sense of peace about it.
I believe that you have seen the decorated wat many times. No one doesn't feel surprised when seeing it.
I don't know its English name, but they make me feel weight of the tower.
Your pictures are better than the website you linked. :thumbsup:
King's Gold Belt
King's Gold Coat
Thai Tale history. There are many that frescos on the wat alls. I cannot understand the story.
Fresco about their culture, history, war, medcine...
I guess they all know the story behind the murals. Seeing the picture just reminds them of it.
You're getting good with that camera Billy. :)
I don't know its English name, but they make me feel weight of the tower.
They kind of remind me a bit of gargoyles. Gargoyles were popular back in the middle ages in Europe. They were bizarre and grotesque statues placed on the outside of buildings (inside too?) to scare off demons. But the Chinese ones are much more brightly decorated, and I kind of doubt they're there to scare of demons, but what do I know.
Billy, do you know anything else about the ones in your picture?
Lottery Vendor of Inability
The correct english would be 'lottery vendor with disability' or 'lottery vendor with handicap'.
If you wanted to use an adjective, you could write 'handicapped lottery vendor' or 'disabled lottery vendor'.
"Vendor of Inability" implies that the person is 'selling inability' or that the person is a god or other fingure representing inability. Inablility, while technically correct, is not used to describe people with missing limbs or other physical or mental attributes. Inability refers to a persons inability to perform a task. Disability or handicap refers to the reason they cannot perform a task.
Handicap is also used as a term in betting. We handicap horses and people by measuring their inability and ability to win a race. In a more negative sense it also means harming someone to cause his or her inability to perform a task.
www.dictionary.com defines these words.
Aw Rich, you broke the code of silence. Now Billy will be talking more gooder American than we's do. :D
More. I just can guess some from the pix.
Aw Rich, you broke the code of silence. Now Billy will be talking more gooder American than we's do. :D
I had to restore the balance. The American most of the rest of the world now sees on a regular basis on the news is GWB, who as President represents the best and brightest of 250 million Americans. :eek:
Lotus in the Wat. Lotus is the holy flower in Buddhism.
I don't know the flower's name. I think it is the noble flower in Thailand.
Lotus in the Wat. Lotus is the holy flower in Buddhism.
Billy, is that Wat as in
Angkor Wat ? I thought that was in Cambodia.
Billy, is that Wat as in Angkor Wat? I thought that was in Cambodia.
It is not Angkor Wat, but Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, Thailand.
I take it that Wat means temple/home of a god/place of worship and Angkor or Phra Kaew identifies which one.
Do I see what I think I see? :blush:
The resemblence is striking, now that you point it out. :)
Lottery Vendor of Inability
The correct english would be 'lottery vendor with disability' or 'lottery vendor with handicap'.
Thank you very much. Indeed I don't know how to correctly express it then. I have good lesson from you.
Billy, is that Wat as in Angkor Wat? I thought that was in Cambodia.
I found one good
Angkor Wat website for your information.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
USA Today=Bullshit
USA=World In Inspiration From Tibet
Self Fusion
I don't know the language.
It is my 1000 post there. I feel very happy to have the good time here.
The weather is not good, So the pix not so beautiful. And I am a new shutterbug.
The Ancestor Lei was a famous official in Zhnajiang. He did many important things there. There are many tales about him.
You ask for the original pix if you like.
Congratulations on 1000 posts Billy!!!
Congratulations, is Ancestor Lei one of your ancestors or is that a customary title for famous dead people? :3eye:
Congratulations, is Ancestor Lei one of your ancestors or is that a customary title for famous dead people?
The latter.
It is reported that the statues were made in the 10th century. There were five statues, but now one is lost and one lost its head.
The archeologists cant explain why they were made and who made becasue there is too little resource about them.
The statues are very simple. The time, rain, wind and human made their faces not so clear because the stone is vesuvianite.
He still kneels down although his head is gone.
They kneel down under the big trees for ages. Their skin also become green.
The stone people look like they were designed to hold something in their lap that fit into that hole in the bottom or is that for some other purpose?
The one without a head looks like his hands broke as well, showing that there is a matching hole in the hands. Looks like they held a flagpole or a tentpole. If there were five, perhaps there was one for each corner and one for the center.
Hundred-year-old bell & the reproduction
The words on tablet were written by KangXi, one famous Qing Dynasty Emperor.
Billy, for the bell pictures, do you mean that the second picture is the first bell's "replacement?"
A "reproduction" is supposed to look exactly like the original, and that second bell doesn't look very much like the first.
As always, wonderful pictures!
The stone people look like they were designed to hold something in their lap that fit into that hole in the bottom or is that for some other purpose?
Maybe a really big stick of incense?
The one without a head looks like his hands broke as well, showing that there is a matching hole in the hands. Looks like they held a flagpole or a tentpole. If there were five, perhaps there was one for each corner and one for the center.
I agree...some kind of poles. :thumb:
I went to
Mt. Huangsha (Yellow Mountain) in company tour. It is famouse by its strange pines, stone, cloudy sea and warm spring.
The first pic is the No. 1 pine in Mt. Huangshan. Its name is Welcoming Guest Pine because it looks like hands to welcome guests.
The second is Seeing-Off Pine.
Lover's Pine
Black Tiger Pine
Harp Pine
Comity Pine. It has many big and small trunks.
Very nice! The trees are like bonsai without pots!
Wolf, you are totally right. The pots are the stones. All the pins have lived in the stones more than 1,000 years old.
do they prune the trees like bonsai trees are pruned (trimmed?) They have very unusual shapes.
Welcome back Billy, we've missed you!
The "Seeing Off" pine is my favorite. :thumbsup:
I agree......seeing off.
But the Comity (committee?) pine intrigues me.
Nice pictures Billy, thanks. :biggrin:
Without checking a dictionary, I think Comity means friendship or community togetherness?
Social Harmony.
For some reason I'm reminded of that episode of The Prisoner where Number 6 is declared unmutual.
do they prune the trees like bonsai trees are pruned (trimmed?) They have very unusual shapes.
No one pruned them. The shapes were made by the large wind on the high mountain. The wind would cut the small upwind trunks. So they are what they are now.
I think it should be community togetherness
The wind would cut the small upwind trunks. So they are what they are now.
Do you mean upwind branches? :)
The first rock is like a downfallen ancient men's shoe. So it is called that Man Shoe Rock in Basking.
The second top rock is like a pair of ancient women's shoe. So it is called that Woman Shoe Rock in Basking.
The Thumb Rock
The Bamboo Shoot Rock
The Lotus Peal, highest peak in Mt. Huangshan.
The Lotus Bud Peak
The Chinese Brush Pen Rock. It has a good Chinese name, but I cant express it in English.
The Tower Rock.
My God, what beautiful landscapes. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Those mountains must get a lot of rain/snow/fog to provide enough moisture for the trees on the rocks. Very beautiful. :thumb:
This is awesome. Billy, what is the foundational rock of these mountainscapes? Granite? The eroded surfaces just seem so...well, eroded...for something like granite.
You're used to relatively young granite, els. I forget all the numbers, but the upthrusts in China occurred way before the Rockies.
Of course, the Chinese rock could be basalt or something like that.
I love the lyrical nature of the names given to these features. In America, our names don't mean shit.
This is awesome. Billy, what is the foundational rock of these mountainscapes? Granite? The eroded surfaces just seem so...well, eroded...for something like granite.
You are right. The rocks are grantie.
I never thought you all liked these pictures. I took these photos for you. But my colleagues say what I took are trash. I feel strange. I just want to record what I see. Must I take the portrait pictures? I think my trip is not certify that I come there, but what I see and get. So I try to take the landscape pictures.
I like landscape photos much more than portraits.
Your landscapes are beautiful Billy - keep up the good work.
There are different reasons to take pictures, Billy. Some to show that you were at a place, and also pictures with and of your friends on the trip, are certainly fine ... but many of the best memories of a trip is of what you saw there. By taking these pictures you have memories of them, and you are also allowing us to see what you thought to be beautiful or interesting or even funny.
I like your pictures just fine!!
Oriental tourists, particularly the Japs, take millions of pictures of themselves and their travel companions in front of attractions worldwide. I've seen them set up a tripod and set the camera timer then run around in front and pose, countless times, if traveling alone. I guess it's a cultural tradition.
I've taken thousands of pictures of scenery and man made attractions with no people in them. Often I had to work at it and be very patient but I think it's worth it. Your pictures are great, Billy! :thankyou:
I often will wait for quite a while to get a shot with no people in it.
One Line Sky Road. The road has a nice name, Romantic Lucky Road. I cant understand its meaning. I guess: meet up right people on the road in the hard climbing; or encounter the romantic lucks after climbing this road. Whatever, hope you all have the romantic lucks after see the pictures.
The upper stairs are very narrow, from there the sky looks like a thin line. The stairs are very steep.
Who carved the stairs and when? They are wonderful! I suspect we would have built something over the rock (probaby a cable car) rather than carve the stairs directly in the rock. I like it your way better. It lets man be part of the landscape. I really like the view of the bottom of the stairs way down below in one of your pictures on the page before this one.
Billy, the pictures are AWESOME. If your buddies, don't like the pictures, tell them don't look at them. Sheesh.
As for landscape pictures, I too have taken thousands of pictures with no people in them. They remind me of the part of my trip that had no people in it. If I traveled to a park or wilderness like you've shown us here, the WHOLE POINT would have been to see some things without people being the focus. It's only natural to also take a picture of it too.
I love the pictures, Billy. Thank you for taking and posting them. It feels like I get a little vacation with you when I look at them and read about them.
Billy, the pictures are AWESOME. If your buddies don't like the pictures, tell them "don't look at them". Sheesh.
As for landscape pictures, I, too, have taken thousands of pictures with no people in them. They remind me of the part of my trip that had no people in it. If I traveled to a park or wilderness like you've shown us here, the WHOLE POINT would have been to see some things without people being the focus. It's only natural to also take a picture of it too.
I love the pictures, Billy. Thank you for taking and posting them. It feels like I get a little vacation with you when I look at them and read about them.
I took these photos for you. But my colleagues say what I took are trash. I feel strange. I just want to record what I see. Must I take the portrait pictures? I think my trip is not certify that I come there, but what I see and get. So I try to take the landscape pictures.
Billy, I'm a long time lurker and first time poster just so I can say to ignore your colleagues! These are great pictures and I've enjoyed all of them you have posted. You have a good eye, just take pictures of what you like. Please keep them coming, I've enjoyed this virtual trip to China.
Oh, hi Cellar. I like you too. :)
Welcome gtown! Know any of our other folks from Austin, or did you just wander in here by chance?
Who carved the stairs and when? They are wonderful! I suspect we would have built something over the rock (probaby a cable car) rather than carve the stairs directly in the rock. I like it your way better. It lets man be part of the landscape. I really like the view of the bottom of the stairs way down below in one of your pictures on the page before this one.
Naw, we just string cables to hang on to. :mg:
Beautiful Billy.
Hi gtown. :)
Who carved the stairs and when?
The mountain was found and climbed more than 2000 years. I cant check for the specific carved time. Almost Chinese famous mountains were carved this style stairs in old time. It is hard to take things to mountains. The food is very expensive on the peak hotels because all the grocery are backpacked by men.
But my colleagues say what I took are trash. I feel strange. I just want to record what I see. Must I take the portrait pictures? I think my trip is not certify that I come there, but what I see and get. So I try to take the landscape pictures.
My family is of the same mentality - if a photo doesn't have people in it, it's "like you were never even there," according to my mother. Both her and my father go out of their way to ruin fantastic landscape and building photos by (rather awkwardly) injecting anyone available into the image. :mad2:
Welcome gtown! Know any of our other folks from Austin, or did you just wander in here by chance?
Someone from Austin sent me a pic of the day link that started my long-time lurking, but no idea if they are regulars. More than likely irregulars with this group. ;)
Naw, we just string cables to hang on to.
Half Dome, Bruce?
Someone from Austin sent me a pic of the day link that started my long-time lurking, but no idea if they are regulars. More than likely irregulars with this group.
It wasn't me, I swear! :) Though I arrived through a locally posted IOTD as well, so it's always possible we know some of the same people...
Naw, we just string cables to hang on to.
Half Dome, Bruce?
Yes'um. ;)
Erratic
The huge stone is 12.0m high, 7.5m long and 1.5 - 2.5m wide, with 210 cubic meters in volume and 544 tons in weight.
Te rock platform supporting the erratic is 12.0 - 15.0m long and 8.0 - 10.0m wide, both of them are lithologically o medium-fine-grained porphyritic granite, but they are isolated from distinctly in between. The upper stone seems come from the far away the sky and is so called Erratic.
Tortoise Rock
It looks like a huge tortoise in the far site. In Chinese culture the tortoise is the symbolization of long life.
The stairs were carved on the cliffs. I felt scary and cant look down when first walked the way. It was reported some people fell down and died.
That's really cool.
It's amazing how I have a new filter for looking at places. Just 7 years ago, I would look at this picture, and want very badly to go there. Now that I have a 3 year old son and a girl in kindergarten, I look at these places in fear, trying to picture me safely traversing the path without my kid going under the railing and down the cliff. Maybe in ten years I'll be cool with this kind of place again.
Ahh. Sorry. I didn't thoroughly explain myself.
*I* want to go. *I* want to take a camera. Maybe two cameras. *I* want MrsV to go with me. The kids can come, but if they're unable to find an extension cord long enough to keep the GameCube and the television working as they haul them up and over those pinnacles, then they can stay home. Everybody wins.
On the other hand, in ten years, you'll have a fresh teenage boy (Dad, all the kids wear them this low...[/whiny-surly])and a 15 year old daughter, getting ready to drive (Daddy, can I go to the movies after the mall, after that there's a sleep over at Lisa's house, can I have some money, yes, their parents will be home, Mom said this skirt is ok, I don't have any makeup on, oh, that's Johnny's ring, just a sec, 'k?) and perhaps you're right, you may be looking at that cliff in a whole new way.
The erratic is erotic. :blush:
an imaginative use of material
I LOVE those bus ads! Where did you find that?!
The only mildly neat one I've seen on a SEPTA bus was one that made it look like a giant ear of corn ...
Philadelphia does NOT get the cool stuff first.
We could torch it to see if it's pop corn. :lol:
I do have many pictures, but my network router is broken. So I cant easily to post the pix. Hope I can do that soon. I feel very happy to share my photos with you.
Hope you get it fixed soon, Billy. Your pictures are one of the highlights of The Cellar.
Hehehe, look at Billy's city. Nice.
Are you having floods where you are , Billy? :eyebrow:
No flood here, but much
flood in other China places now.
I forgot the names of the flowers.
I got up at 4:10 to see the sunrise. It was the first time to get up so early after grauation from school. I think it is worth doing it.
Small Sun face growing up
Full face.
It is not easy to watch sunrise in Mt. Huangshan because there are more than 200 days in rainning.
Billy, I think the pink flowers are azaleas. Nice photos!
Billy, I enjoy seeing your photographs, but I am also interested in your words. It's good when you tell stories about your life because we don't get to find out much about what ordinary people in China do and enjoy.
Thanks for being our friend!
We believe that in Chinese tales the Heaven is floating in the sea of cloud. Many Chinese supernatural being became into immortals in these wizardly places.
It would be amazing to walk in the cloud. You look like walking in sea from others' view sites. We call the small rainbow "Buddha Light", especially the rainbow arround the heads of people that look like figures of Buddha.
In this moment I think I am in the Soul Heaven.
The beauty is in heart and imagination. What we can do is to enjoy but not destroy it.
The heaven is dispersing so I know I just experienced dream and have to return to reality.
You take the most beautiful pictures, Billy.
Thank you for sharing them. Really beautiful.
I think the Mountain is dancing with white saree. It does that not for people, just entertain itself.
BTW, may I upload more than 2 pictures in one post? What need I do? Thanks. Hope you like. Welcoem to China.
You seem to have been doing a lot of traveling the last few months, Billy. Going to some very nice places too. Are you traveling more or just didn't have a camera before?
Whatever the reason you've got some very beautiful pictures. :thumb:
You seem to have been doing a lot of traveling the last few months, Billy. Going to some very nice places too. Are you traveling more or just didn't have a camera before?
Thank you. I like travel. I just had camera last October.
Extraordinary pictures, Billy!!
(I think I'm running out of sufficiently good adjectives)
I always enjoy Billy's poetic descriptions that accompany the images as well - makes the places seem even more magical. I think I'll start packing for my visit to China.
Billy has also been using his descriptions here on The Cellar to work on his English. If you go back and look at his early posts, you can see that he's coming along very, very well.
Any update on the possibility of an American education, Billy?
I told the government not to let him come over here because we can get plenty of pictures of this country but not many of China. :lol2:
Have you heard of this program?
QQ
No, I can't read the page.
I was digging into information about instant messaging and ran across information about it
here. I thought that if you hadn't heard of it that you could use it, and if you had heard of it you might let us know to open other options for chatting.
In any event, enjoy.
Any update on the possibility of an American education, Billy?
I have tried and am trying my besy to apply the schools and scholarship. I cant get the USA visa because I have no money enough to pay for the education. I need about US$35,000, too much for me. I would open a good business here if I get that money now. I still have the deam to the USA now. If so, we can have the wine face to face from Cellar.org then.
Have you heard of this program?
No, I can't read the page.
I was digging into information about instant messaging and ran across information about it here. I thought that if you hadn't heard of it that you could use it, and if you had heard of it you might let us know to open other options for chatting.
In any event, enjoy.
QQ was OICQ before AOL & ICQ appealed to the copyright. QQ is my second Instant Messager. Of course the first one is ICQ, third is AIM.
In Chinese IM market, QQ is over 70%. MSN and Yahoo all want to beat QQ down now. It is not a easy cake for them. Some people sometimes add their QQ numbers in Lost and Found. At first QQ is like Chinese version of ICQ, but now it has many functions for Chinese styles.
The QQ website is in Chinese. You cant easily understand it. I can send you the English version software if you want to contact QQ users.
I have tried and am trying my besy to apply the schools and scholarship. I cant get the USA visa because I have no money enough to pay for the education...
The school I attend has a large number of foreign students and many of them operate on financial aid. What I will do is talk to some of them and see if I can't point you in a direction that might get you some results. There is a whole program here that connects foreign students with opportunities. Even if you dont' end up attending
Southeastern the information may get you going.
QQ was OICQ before AOL & ICQ appealed to the copyright...
Well that answer my question and then some. I use a program called
Trillian that supports multiple client (MSN, ICQ, AOL, etc) and I was looking to see if there was a QQ plugin for it. Could you look on your forums over there and let me know?
Well that answer my question and then some. I use a program called Trillian that supports multiple client (MSN, ICQ, AOL, etc) and I was looking to see if there was a QQ plugin for it. Could you look on your forums over there and let me know?
Thank you very much. I sent you the download link. You can try to test. Can tillian support
Skype?
I need about US$35,000, too much for me. I would open a good business here if I get that money now. I still have the deam to the USA now. If so, we can have the wine face to face from Cellar.org then.
If you get $35,000US, you could fly us all over there for a good wine party. :lol:
Thank you very much. I sent you the download link. You can try to test. Can tillian support Skype?
Sort of. I'd have to install a plugin for Trillian as well as having Skype running in the background. It shouldn't be much longer before there is a standalone plugin.
There is only this torii in this village now. The carving is very fine.
After raining for years, the carving details are still very clear.
The hundreds years old gingkgo. The tree was dying away. The Beijing botanists removed a small new branch into the old tree. The old tree recover again.
Porch Bridge. The small bridge is more than 500 years old. There is a small tea house. It is super cool to have the tea, listen to the opera and watch the stream.
Is that water still clean, Billy?
Was the branch hurting the tree somehow? :confused:
Is that water still clean, Billy?
Was the branch hurting the tree somehow?
The water is clean. The branch did not hurt the tree, but help.
I think Billy meant that the botonists grafted a new branch from an unrelated ginko onto the old guy and that somehow this stimulated the old guy to new efforts. Sort of like a tansfusion I guess. I'd love to know how that worked.
I think Billy meant that the botonists grafted a new branch from an unrelated ginko onto the old guy and that somehow this stimulated the old guy to new efforts. Sort of like a tansfusion I guess. I'd love to know how that worked.
You are right. I didn't know how to explain it. The travel guide did not tell us more information about it.
There mainly lived and lives Bao Clan in the village. Bao was one of the richest nabobs of his day, Ming and Qing Dynasty. It has the largest torii group (7 toriis) in China now. The toriis were built by emperors or permitted by emperors to honor "loyalty, chastity, righteousness and filial piety" (not sure if the expression is right, I cant find the references). Tangli possesses all the styles. Zhang Jiemin, former Chinese Chairman, visited this village.
I rememdered that the upper was the oldest in the group.
The toriis were built on the main road to the village. There is a saying "7 toriis and 8 stories" becasuse every torii has its history story and there is also a pavilion for rest.
The Hall of QingYi (the ancestral tmple for women): It was built in the reign of Emperor Jia Qing in Qing Dynasty (1805AD), housing an area of 818 square meter, which has five rooms in three rows. It is the only ancestral temple for women in the world.
The brick carving is very fine and dramatic.
Your English really is noticeably improving, Billy. Great pictures, as always!
The temple is simple because it was built to honor the woman's chastity and filial piety.
Nice Billy, thanks. :)
The Chinese have always been noted for elegantly simple solutions, which makes me wonder if this is their solution for handicapped (wheelchair) access.
Here, we'd have to have a $million federal project to achieve the same end.
Any average part has its unique characteristics.
Beautiful rafters and beams. Unfortunately, no the wonderful tradditional Chinese architectures are buliding in China now.
The inscription was written by Zhu Xi, a famous philosopher in Song Dynasty. The words are Zhong (loyalty), Xiao (filial piety), Lian (probity) and Jie (chastity. Jie has many meanings, I don't know what it is better here). The words educate the clan families to abide by the ethics.
Billy. Thank you thank you thank you for letting me travel with you on your journeys. I am awed at the wonderful pictures and the evocative descriptions you share with all of us. Please, continue.
To my fellow vicarious adventurers: am I the only one that wishes Billy had
this? I would be willing to kick in some $$ for the effort. Of course, Billy, your vote counts too. Plus, you'll need the minimum hardware as well. I don't know what all is involved, but I see your pictures and wonder what it would be like to see more. This does some of that.
I am always astounded at what can be expressed in so few, yet elegant, written characters.
What do these philosophical characters say to us, Billy?
What do the Zhu Xi inscriptions say, Billy?
Thank you Billy. I especially love the curves and timbers.
The elephants in the rafters are a nice touch.
Billy, your photos are really wonderful. Thank you.
The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago, by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.). In Chinese the wall is called "Wan-Li Qang-Qeng" which means 10,000-Li Long Wall (10,000 Li = about 5,000 km).
After subjugating and uniting China from seven Warring States, the emperor connected and extended four old fortification walls along the north of China that originated about 700 B.C. (over 2500 years ago). Armies were stationed along the wall as a first line of defense against the invading nomadic Hsiung Nu tribes north of China (the Huns). Signal fires from the Wall provided early warning of an attack.
The Great Wall is one of the largest building construction projects ever completed. It stretches across the mountains of northern China, winding north and northwest of Beijing. It is constructed of masonry, rocks and packed-earth. It was over 5,000 km (=10,000 Li) long. Its thickness ranged from about 4.5 to 9 meters (15 to 30 feet) and was up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) tall.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) and renovated over a 200 year period, with watch-towers and cannons added.
The Great Wall can be seen from Earth orbit, but, contrary to legend, is not visible from the moon, according to astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Jim Irwin.
The Great Wall like a long dragon in the north China. What I saw is the First Compass in Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao, HeBei.
The South Gate of the ShanHaiGuan.
First Pass Under Heaven
The five huge Chinese characters, "Tian Xia Di Yi Guan," mean, "First Pass under Heaven" with each character on the plaque measuring about 5 feet from top to bottom.
The two-story tower of the Pass
The tower was rebuilt in 1990s, so it looks very new and beautiful.
The View of the mordern City from the wall.
Cool, Billy. Thanks. :biggrin:
Those are great Billy!
My husband has been invited back to China for the second time, and will be going over at the end of October.
He climbed up the Great Wall when he was there before, and when he got to the top he got a "hero card" for making it. It cracked me up.
Once again, lovely pictures Billy! We have missed you here!
The side wall of the tower
I hope I'm able to communicate this effectively...
Billy, is there an engineering (as opposed to aesthetic) reason for the upturned corners on Chinese temples? Is is some sort of strength or drainage enhancement, or is it done just because it looks cool?
Although roofs may seem insignificant, they are a very important part of Chinese architecture. Roofs not only protected residences from the elements but also had deeper meanings. For example, the Buddhist curved their temple roofs because they believed that the shape helped ward off evil spirits. The roof of the temple is made of glazed ceramic tiles and has an overhanging eave, distinguished by a graceful upward slope. The intricate fit of merging rafters forms the complex arc at which the roof curves. The Chinese also used this concept in the construction of elaborate roofs on expensive homes. The building materials used to cover the ridge and gutters improved, over time, from regular mud to the earth tiles. They plastered the floors and walls with a combination of lime and sand, giving them a hard and smooth surface. They also made the north walls of their homes thicker to protect and insulate from the strong and cold winds. Perhaps one of the most important architectural advancement was the invention of corbel brackets (known as "dugong" in Chinese) placed on column heads which support the projecting eaves. Later, these became a unique feature to the classical Chinese architecture.
Billy, is there an engineering (as opposed to aesthetic) reason for the upturned corners on Chinese temples? Is is some sort of strength or drainage enhancement, or is it done just because it looks cool?
I read some materials about it, I cant remember the reasons. Or you check by google.
Splode I read or heard some where that the up turned roof corners were to keep 'evil spirits away , like what superbaton said ,
There're no final theory to explain the large and curved roofs of Chinese buildings in engineering,according to a popular viewpoint,"large" is to protect buildings from the eroding of rainwater and "curved" is to get more daylight. The curved roofs can be found in models(crockery) of buildings of 2000 years ago,I think no one could know the reason exactly before the next important archaeological discovering :headshake
Wang is a rich businessman in Shanhaiguan in Qing Dynasty. The house is close to the First Pass Under Heaven.
Chen Yuanyuan, the pretty woman, was famous in Chines history. They told me that the drawing only shows her 60% beauty.
The bed of the first son is the most wonderful in the beds of the Children.
There is a small collection room for the Chinese traddtional art and crafts.
Siliver Ring
They collected the old clothes. The first is for baby.
It is hard to see people having these clothes now.
Some funneral houses sell the clothes for the dead people now.
Wow, I'd love to have that root carving. :mg:
There're no final theory to explain the large and curved roofs of Chinese buildings in engineering,according to a popular viewpoint,"large" is to protect buildings from the eroding of rainwater and "curved" is to get more daylight. The curved roofs can be found in models(crockery) of buildings of 2000 years ago,I think no one could know the reason exactly before the next important archaeological discovering :headshake
Those are exactly the sorts of notions I was looking for, Xker. Thanks.
Rationally, I like Xker's explanations; aesthetically, I prefer the keeping away of evil spirits part.
Last Sunday I went to the Labor Park in Dalian, Liaoning, China. The spring is coming in the following pix.
Can you play the football?
I don't know the names of flowers.
In Chinese the peach blossom means romance.
More in next time if I go to see the cherry blossom.
Welcome back, Billy. :D
Missed you and your pictures.
If you are able to, I'd like to see a
Frappr pin in China.
I think the yellow is Forsythia, but I'm clueless on the rest. Great to hear from you again, Billy. We always enjoy your pictures.
What's inside the soccer ball (football) building?
What's inside the soccer ball (football) building?
You are right. It is a Exhibition Room.
There are different footballs in downtown. I will take for you if I talk arround one day.
Billy, ni jiu zai na li? wo jiu guo bei jing gen xiang gang, wo xian zai jiu zai tai bei.
Meh, sorry, my chinese isn't the best, but I can speak a bit at least... Though I'm not sure i got the pinyin right at some spots, but i'm sure you can figure out what im trying to say
Huan Ying Lai Zhong Guo! Welcome to China!
wo zhu zai Dalian. I live in Dalian.
I just moved from Guangzhou to Dalian. Taipei is a good city. I think you can have a good time there.
Yeah, I like it here, though I really miss my friends (and girlfriend) back in the states...
Having lived in Hong Kong and Beijing, I find Taipei to be about halfway between the two, culturewise. It's very modernized and westernized, as hong kong is, but also has the kind of sprawl that Beijing has. Hong Kong is really compact, but Taipei isn't, in physical area or in mindset.
EDIT: by the way, love the photography.
EDIT 2: If Billy (and the rest of you) doesn't mind, can I post some of my pictures of Taipei and the Mainland here, too?
I just moved from Guangzhou to Dalian.
Where is Dalian - which province? Did you take a new job?
Ibram, you can start another thread if you'd like. Either way, I'd love to see them. :thumb2:
Well should I start a new thread or should I use the thread already here for pictures of China? I'm fine either way, but I dont wanna start a new thread if this one's fine, and I dont want to use this one if billy doesn't want me hijacking it.
Ibram, I am glad that you post your pix here.
Dalian is in Laoning, North China. Now I am wroking as a QA Engineer in an American company here.
In that case, I shall post some this afternoon when I get home. I think I'm going to start with the older pictures I have of the mainland before I post the more boring pictures of Taipei.
I cant wait to see it. Many western friends told me that China is very different from what they thought beofer they came. We all should take the open mind to the wold.
These pictures are in no particular order, except the order I come across them, but...
1.) some of the hills around Guilin, taken from the river.
2.) A bridge that's either underwater or about to be underwater near the 3 Gorges area.
EDIT: I apologise for the size of the picture, but I couldn't do it justice if I resized it.
Guiling is really beautiful place to walk, hike, see...
Looks like hiking would be pretty hard work, good place to be a bird. :)
On May, Ist, I went to see the sakura in the LongWang Tang Park, Dalian. It was my first time to see it. Share with you gusy here.
White sakura tree with a bird nest
The white was on the blossoming when I went. The red was out of blossom.
For Japanese, the beauty of sakura is the shatters.
It is the good time for friends or families to entertaint together under the trees.
The park is not so big, attracted on its sakura.
Thank you Billy! I like the pictures of people enjoying the park as much as the pictures of the trees they came to enjoy.
Hi Billy, it looks like there are more cars and less bicycles where you are now? :)
Yes. This park is a little far from downtown so many people came by car or bus. Almost all people come out tby bus in Dalian.
Billy, I *always* look forward to enjoying the great pics you share with us here. Thanks again for sharing the awesome beauty of China with us Cellarites.
I went to the Park on April 22.
I cant make out the third character on the statue, what's it say?
sit there to enjoy this moment
Yulan
Peach
The sentance is "Tian Xia Wei Gong", striving for the public.
Ah, wei, okay. I got the Tian Xia _____ Gong, thank you.
The statue doesn't look like a Chinese guy. :eyebrow:
June 3 & 4 I went to Dandong, LiaoNing. It is the most close city to the North Korea. I feel like that I experienced the Korean War again. You guys can see that the USA army did bad for us and the north Korea. The broke bridge is the good proof. It is is the first bridge constructed by Japan on the Yalu River.
The back bridge is named of the Chinese-Korean Friendship Bridge.
Why does the front bridge go only partway across?
The twin bridge have different fates.
You can see from the picture that the bridge was bombed by the USA Air because the US want prevent Chinese to help the North Korea.
It is said the steel were from German. Japan built up the bridge for transporting the sources between China & Korea in World War II.
Don't Forget History, Bless Peace Forver.
The USA Air bomb
So the bridge which ends in the observation deck is what remains of the original structure after it was bombed during the Korean War?
Nice history lesson, Billy. Thanks, as always.
Hi Billy.:D
Could have been worse.
Gen. MacArthur was the first to work out a plan to nuke Korea (' a belt of radioactive zone') in 1950-51 and subsequent field commanders had elaborated and even mounted mock nuclear bombing raids in North Korea. In
fact, the US Military had tactical nukes ready to go in South Korea until a decade or two ago.
Sorry about that.
The N Koreans have been nothing but trouble since then, but the S Koreans have become rich beyond belief.
The USA Air bombed the Korean Bridge. They did not think that China would help the North Korean. It remains the original structure.
The people sometimes don't see the history as mirror, but still do what they like today. That is why we have the Iraq War...
The Korean remnants piers after the bombing
The Friendship Bridge has two different parts, one left part in China, the other in North Korea. However it is an important bridge for friendship, economy, culture, politics and history.
The bridge is one life line for Korea. The train comes back from Korea. Ago you can pass though the bridge to visit N Korea. Too many people went to gamble. So Chinese goverment stopped the tour.
I don't know more about the lower picture.
The N Korean Fisher
It is XinYiZhou, the second largest city of N Korea.
boatyard
BTW: Can I post over 2 pix in one thread?
Wow, great pictures, Billy. I never got a chance to visit that part of China while I lived there... Though I'm not sure how warm the welcome would have been.
Hushan means Mout Tiger. Based on the lastest research, the Ming Dynasty Great Wall starts from Hushan. The outer side is the North Korea.
The wall was reconstructed on the original site.
Fin Island, including 7 small islands, is donated by Chinese goverment. Now N Korea plant for reserving state commissariat.
You can see that the army are working there by hand.
Man, Hushan is another place I really wanted to visit.
If I ever get around to it, i'll post the pictures I took last week at the national cultural... somethingorother.
Fin Island, including 7 small islands, is donated by Chinese goverment. Now N Korea plant for reserving state commissariat.
What is that, Billy? What were the soldiers building? :confused:
What is that, Billy? What were the soldiers building? :confused:
Well, since UT yanked me out of the CIA closet, I suppose I can lend a hand....
My sources on the ground indicate it is a manufacturing operation. Now let's have a look see.... Whaaaat are you guys makin over there????
[FONT=Fixedsys]hello: login langley![/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]id: beestie[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]pw: *********[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]drone: charliedavidroger %recon%[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]gps: [/FONT][FONT=Fixedsys]******** *** ********[/FONT]
[FONT=Fixedsys]cdr: %zoom% %saycheese% %zoom% %saycheese% %zoom% %saycheese%[/FONT]
Well, I'll be a sonofa...
Great pics as always, Billy. Thanks for sharing them. The weather looks pretty overcast and gloomy--is that typical?
Well done, Beestie.:rotflol:
It's amazing what Beestie can do with his connections. :lol:
All the park was destroyed by the American and English United Army in 1860. So it is a ruin park today.
It includes
three parks: QiChunYuan (Garden of Blossoming Spring), Changchunyuan(Garden of Eternal Spring) and Yuanmingyuan (Garden of Perfect Splendor).
Palace Gates of Qichunyuan:
In 1987, two new gates-the outer and inner gates-sere built, together with palace walls and side gates. They now serve as the main gates to the whole park.
From July 18 to August 20, it is the Lotus Festival this year.
Inner Gate
Qichunyuan(Garden of Blossoming Spring)
Situated to the south of Yuanmingyuan and Changchunyuan, this was originally a small garden presented to Prince Yunxiang, thirteenth son of Emperor Kangxi. It was expanded during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng. The next emperor, Qianlong, presented the garden to Fu Heng, Grand Academician and Minister of State. In 1770, Qichunyuan took its present name, and was incorporated into Yuanmingyuan. A supervisor was appointed to manage the garden, but large-scale renovation and expansion were not initiated until 1795. In 1805, Emperor Jiaqing composed 30 poems to celebrate the over ten scenic spots. With its new palace gate finished in 1809, the garden reached its prime by 1814.
In 1821, the eastern part of the garden was renovated for the empress dowagers and imperial consorts, while the western part was taken by Emperor Daoguang, then Xianfeng.
In 1860 when the Qing Empire was defeated in the Opium War, the garden suffered severe damage at the hands of the Ango-French Forces. Only a few buildings, such as Zhuangyan Fajie (Realm of the Solemn Dharma), the Huiji (Enlightened Benevolence) Temple, Lumanxuan (Chamber of Overflowing Greenness) and the palace gates, survived the fire. It was renamed Wanchunyuan (Garden of a Thousand Springtimes) when Emperor Tongzhi had some buildings repaired. But the whole garden was once again destroyed in 1900 by the Eight-Power Allied Forces. Today, of this exquisite imperial garden once so highly eulogized, only but a dozen or so ravaged rooms of the Zhengjue (Enlightenment) Temple lie there, in silent testimony.
In 1986, Yuanmingyuan Park staff cleared and revitalized the hills and water system of Qichunyuan. So far, a few sights, such as the new palace gates, the Jianbi Pavilion (Pavilion in a Blue Mirror), the Haoran (Noble Spirit)Pavilion, and Xianren Chenglu (Platform of Immortal Receiving Heavenly Dew) have been restored.
Jianbi Pavilion (Pavilion in a Blue Mirror)
This pavilion was originally built around 1811. Tall, spacious, and with four sides, it commanded a beautiful view from the center of a lake. The present one was restored in 1993, covering a floor space of 256 square meters.
Remnants of a Stone Bridge
The remnants lie to the north of the Janbi Pavilion. In its prime, the three gardens of Yuanmingyuan boasted 200 bridges of different styles and materials. But only the remnants of this single-arch stone bridge remain to this day.
Thanks Billy,Those are great.
Hey Beestie, Can you tell me who keeps calling and hanging up without leaving a message? Thx.
The ruin bridge reminds most people about the history.
Xianren Chenglu (Platform of Immortal Receiving Heavenly Dew)
This vista was located on a hill on the western side of the lake containing the Fenglin Islet. According to legend, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (reigning 140-87 BC) longed for an eternal life. When he heard that swallowing jade powder mixed with heavenly dew could help him attain his desire, he ordered the making of a bronze immortal holding a plate at the Jianzhang Temple in Xi'an. A bronze statue of the same kind was erected at Qichunyuan during Emperor Jiaqing['s reign, which disappeared when the garden was destroyed. Today, standing in its place is a sculpture of black marble carved in 1989, its size and style designed in accordance with a picture preserved by the Qing court.
Haoran (Noble Spirit) Pavilion
This pavilion is located on a small island to the north of the Fenglin Islet. Built before 1781, the four-sided pavilion had a double-eaved roof. The present one is a hexagonal structure with double eaves, completed in 1992.
Hanjingtang (Tripataka Hall)
The building was very huge.
The force destroyed our building, cluture and history.
The carving skills are wonderful.
Niiiice place... I love lotuses.
When can the emperors come again?
Shizilin (Lion Grove Garden)
This garden on the northern bank of East Lake in Changchunyuan includes the Congfang Pavilion built in 1747(12th year of Emperor Qianlon's reign) in the west and the Lion Grove Garden completed in 1772 in the east.Lion Grove Garden took after the shape and design of its famous namesake in Suzhou.More than ten pavilions and architectural structure dotted the scenery,which was renowned for its bizarre-shaped stones sculpted by skillful artisansfrom Suzhou.Emperor Qianlong composed poems on on ten occasions on the theme of "Sixteen Sights in Lion Grove Garden;"and these poems were inscribed on horizontal boards or stone tablets.
The dilapidated arch of the Rainbow Bridge recently restored in its original site
Recently restored Watergate on its original site
Located to the eat of Haiyantang, and at the meeting point of the north-south axis of Changchunyuan and the east-west axis of the European Palaces, this site was the most spectacular scene of Western-style fountains in the garden, where the British envoy George Macartney visited in 1793.
Dashuifa, facing south, was a group of fountains with a shrine-shaped structure in the background. In an oval pond was a hunting scene: a deer, whose horns sprayed water, was chased by a group of hounds, whose mouths shot water in the direction of their prey-with 13-layer fountain pyramids on both sides, this presented a magnificent display. To the south of Dashuifa was Guan Shuifa, which consisted of a throne facing north for the emperor to admire the Grand Waterworks, and a carved, curving stone screen. These two structures were both built around 1759.
Yuangyingguan, to the north of Dashuifa, was a large building in the shape of a Western bell tower, built in 1783. The doors and windows were inlaid with 1,206 pieces of glass. The building was supported by over ten tall, White marble pillars, among which the most beautiful were the two supporting the central arched gate. They were both carved in detail from top to bottom in patterns of hanging grapes with life-like vines and leaves.
Much weathered after more than a century, the surviving carved pillars, stone shrine and screen still look distinctive and impressive. This site is a must-see for visitors.
Ruins of Dashuifa
I knew Yuanmingyuan from the Yuanyingguan picture in my history in elementary school.
Present-day ruins of Dashuifa and Yuanyingguan
Present-day ruins of Guan Shuifa
Present-day ruins of Dashuifa and Yuanyingguan
Haiyantang (Hall of National Peace)
Built in 1759, and located to the east of Fangwaiguan, the largest European-style garden in Yuanmingyuan-Haiyantang-consisted of a main building and an H-shaped water tower behind it. The two-storied main building faces west, with 11 rooms on each floor. The gate of the building was flanked by a pair of water channels with steps leading down to a large fountain. On the V-shaped platform around the pond stood 12 bronze statues with animal heads and human bodies, the animals being those representing the 12 Earthly branches. Every two hours water was sprayed out successively from each animal's mouth. Thus the fountain was also called the "Water Clock."
Behind the main building was the H-shaped reservoir flanked to the north and south by two small fountains. It fed all the fountains around this area. At its east and west ends were waterwheel houses. Below the terrace in the middle was the reservoir with tin walls and a high base, known as the "tin sea." It held over 160 cubic meters of water. In its early days, water was brought up by man-powered dragon-phoenix waterwheels designed by Michael Benoist. Three or four years later a pulley system was used to haul up water in big jars.
The ruined Haiyantang
Base of the reservoir in the water tower
Fangwaiguan (Belvedere)
Fangwaiguan was a two-storied European palace. Built in 1759, it faced south, sitting to the east of Xieqiqu. Outside, a pair of the second floor to the ground. The ceilings and walls on the two floors were covered with a Western-style landscape painting. On the eastern and western walls of the second floor hung four glass screens, each holding a figure painting on silk painted by J.Denis Attiret. There were three rooms on the first floor. In the central room stood a large mirror, on a wall in the west room hung a Western-style tapestry with patterns designed by Giussepe Castiglione; in the east room stood a Western-style mirror, reflecting the Dragon-Phoenix Fountain outside. It is said that this building used to be the place of worship for a Uygur concubine in favor with Emperor Qianlong. There were also a pair of round, white marble tablets, both 1.3m in diameter, bearing inscriptions in Arabic, one saying: Ottoman loves Allah, and allah loves Ottoman; and the other: Ali loves Allah, and Allah loves Ali. The tablets disappeared, leaving only photographs taken early in this century. Beyond the bridge in the southeast of Fangwaiguan was a Western-style octagonal pavilion.
The Labyrinth
Located to the north of Xieqiqu, the Labyrinth was an imitation of a Eupopean-style maze. In the center was a high, round-based Western-style pavilion, surrounded by layers of 1.2m-high brick walls that formed rectangles. The Labyrinth stretched 89m from north to south, 59m from east to west, the length of its walls totaling over 1,6000m. It was said that the emperor used to hold a lantern party in the Labyrinth on the evening of the Mid-autumn Festival (the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month). The palace maids would run between the walls, carrying lotus lanterns made of yellow silk-the first to reach the pavilion in the center would get an award from the emperor. Thus the Labyrinth was also known as "Garden of Yellow Flowers." The Labyrinth was restored in 1989, with the pavilion built of white marble.
Xieqiqu (Harmonious Wonder)
Located in the southwest corner of Xiyanglou, Xieqiqu was an architectural group with the first European-style fountain. The main building had three stories, with three rooms on the top floor, and seven on each of the lower two floor, and seven on each of the lower two floors. It was connected by a pair of curving verandahs at both sides with twin tow-storied octagonal buildings in front, which served as orchestras. To the south was a large fountain in the shape of a flowering Chinese crabapple, with bronze water jets in the shapes of rams and ducks, and Western-style stone fish. To the north of the main building was a small fountain in the shape of a chrysanthemum. The fountains were fed from the Water Pavilion (a water tower) to the northwest of Xieqiqu, where water was drawn up by a mule-drawn waterwheel to the cistern at the top of the pavilion and flowed down through a copper pipe to the jets.
Some of the remains of the stone sculptures in Xieqiqu
Wow, that is some gorgeous stonework.
All the park was destroyed by the American and English United Army in 1860. So it is a ruin park today.
No Americans, Billy.
In 1860, during the Second Opium War, the British and French expeditionary forces looted the Old Summer Palace. Later, on October 18 1860, the British general Lord Elgin - with protestations from the French (who in fact began the looting) - purposely ordered to set fire to the huge complex which burned to the ground. It took 3,500 British troops to set the entire place ablaze and took three whole days to burn. More than 300 eunuchs and palace maids were burned to death. Elgin intended the destruction of the palace as a way to punish the Emperor and the Qing Government, in retaliation for the imprisonment, torture, and murder of over 20 western prisoners of war, among them two British envoys who had been under protection of a flag of truce and a correspondent for The Times. It is believed that some died by the death by a thousand cuts . The burning of the Gardens of Perfect Brightness is still a very sensitive issue in China today.
Lord Elgin, as in the Elgin Marbles? Man, he cut a swath through foreign stonework, didn't he?
No Americans, Billy.
On the introduction in the park, I heard American force also joined the robbery.
No offence, billy, but that's exactly the kind of thing they would tell you.
Thanks Billy,Those are great.
Hey Beestie, Can you tell me who keeps calling and hanging up without leaving a message? Thx.
Absoutely. I asked my sources over in NSA since they are all set up to eavesdrop and trace but they were too busy recording 5exChat so I called my go to guy over in the Department of [[FONT=Lucida Sans Unicode]
[COLOR=red]CODE 7[/COLOR] - [COLOR=darkred]Beestie - report to my office NOW and bring your keys and access cards[/COLOR] -
[COLOR=navy]BIGBOY[/COLOR][/FONT]] who takes care of *cough* those types of things.
Apparently, its some guy in Georgia who's been looking for you for quite a while. I'll have more info later but its the guy who made the first post on this
site.
SCF, please. This isn't my monitor.
Very, very funnyfunnyfunny, Beestie. As usual. : props:
On the introduction in the park, I heard American force also joined the robbery.
I checked several sites in China and can't find any mention of Americans until the 1908 "Boxer Rebellion", in relation to Yuanmingyuan Park.
The force destroyed our building, cluture and history.
Just the building(s), Billy. The great, long history of China can not be destroyed, neither can the culture, although we had a hand in making some history and altering the culture a little.
Outsiders can't take away your culture....only Chinese can do that. :D
One friend of mine sent the photos. I am not sure if I can post in this thread, but I want to share with you guys.
As one of the five best-known mountains in China, Mt. Huashan is located to the south of Huayin city, 120 kilometers east of Xian, in Shaanxi province, with an elevation of 2200 meters above sea level. In ancient times, Mt. Huashan was called Mt. Taihuashan. Seen from afar, the five peaks looks like five petals of a flower. Hence its name, Mt. Huashan (= five flowers). Today, it is listed as one of the renowned national scenic spots.
Mt. Huashan is famous for its breath-taking cliffs. Along the 12-kilometer-long winding path up to the top are awe-inspiring precipices, looking into which will take your breath away. Among the five peaks, East Peak (Facing Sun Peak), West Peak (Lotus Peak) and South Peak (Dropping Goose Peak) are comparatively high. Standing at the top of East Peak, one can enjoy the rising sun early in the morning. West Peak, in resemblance to a lotus flower, is the most graceful peak in Mt. Huashan. In addition, there are Middle Peak (Jade Maiden Peak) and North Peak (Clouds Stand). The middle peak got its name because of a story telling that once a young lady rode a white horse among the mountains. North Peak, like a flat platform in the clouds, is the place where the story Capturing Mt. Huashan Wisely took place.
Mt. Huashan boasts a lot of places of interest. Here and there stand Buddhist and Taoist temples, pavilions and buildings as well as sculptures and engravings. Of the ruins, Yuquan (Jade Spring), Zhenwu Palace, and Jintian Palace are, comparatively speaking, famous. Xiyue Temple, seven kilometers north of Mt. Huashan is the place where people of ancient times paid tribute to the Mt. Huashan God.
Along the cliff of South Peak is a planked path equipped with an iron chain, with the help of which, adventurers can walk on the frightful path. There is a giant rock in front of Cuiyun Palace on West Peak. As it takes the shape of a lotus flower, the mountain is also called Lotus Peak. As legend has it, Chen Xiang, a filial young man, once split the mountain and rescued his mother out of it. Now a crack can be witnessed in a giant rock beside Cuiyun Palace as if an axe made it. Thus, the rock is called 'Axe-splitting Rock,' beside which is a huge axe with a long handle. The northwest side of the peak is called Fatal Cliff for it is as steep as if it was cut by a sharp sword.
North Peak, with cliffs on three sides, has only one road leading to the south. From here one goes south to Ca'er Precipice, the fourth most dangerous place along the only path in Mt. Huashan. The cliff path is less than 30 centimeters wide, and faces such a deep valley that the tourists have to edge along carefully. Then one comes to Sky-leading Ladder, Sun and Moon Precipice and the well-known Blue Dragon Mountain.
East Peak, with a rising-sun platform favorable for viewing the morning sun, is also called Facing Sun Peak. As the sun emerges from the sea of clouds, one cannot help but show great admiration.
Every year one can take advantage of the best visiting times through May to October. At the foot of Mt. Huashan there are a variety of restaurants where comfortable accommodation is available. As well, one might can be refreshed in the restaurants on Qingke Stand, South Peak and North Peak as well as in temples, big or small.
The area of Mt. Huashan specializes in gingko, thatch weaving and traditional paper-cutting. The shops are mostly at the foot of the mountain, where one can rent walking sticks, gym shoes, warm clothes, electric torches and so on.
South Peak: Taoism Temples
The south peak is the main peak and also the steepest of Huashan. Legend has it that Laozi, the originator of Taoism, used to missionize here. Among the many temples, the Jintian Palace, the Zhenyue Palace and the Chunyang Temple are the listed among the state-level Taoist structures.
West Peak: Green Cloud Temple
The Green Cloud Temple is also called the Holy Mother Temple. It enshrines statues of three holy mothers. There is a large stone cut into three parts outside. It is the well-known "Ax Cutting Stone" for it looks as if it is being cut by an ax. Beside the stone, there is a huge ax. According to legend Baolian Deng (The Lotus Lamp), it was used by Chen Xiang to save his mother.
Central Peak: Jade Maiden Shrine
It is on the central peak of Huashan and stands on a natural stone tortoise. The Jade maiden was said to be Nong Yu -- daughter of Duke Mu of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC). The story took place in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC): A young man named Xiao Shi was good at playing bamboo flute. Nong Yu, who fell deeply in love with the poor young man, gave up all her nabobism to marry Xiao. The lovers came to Huashan and lived here for the rest of their life. To commemorate the couple, people built the Jade Maiden Shrine.
In our litigious society, a place like this would never be available for the common person to experience in this way. Those chain/board pathways are a personal injury lawyer's wet dream.
Excellent pics and info, as always, Billy. Thanks!
Damn, I think I'll past on that trip....leave it to the younger set to bring back pictures.
Billy, what have you been doing? Where are you now, still working for Thompson? Are you still having fun or has some woman tied you down?;)
I massaged the first picture a little.
Billy, I haven't seen any of your gorgeous pictures before today.
They took my breath away - you have a real talent both for photography and the captions you apply. Amazes me that can describe images so poetically and succinctly - AND in a foreign language!
A few pages back (I started from page 1) you mentioned Tripataka Hall, but without further explanation. Is this the same as Tripitaka of Journey to the West (Xi You Ji) fame?
I understand it's also a generic term for a Buddhist monk of a certain level.
Billy, thanks for posting information about these pictures. I saw one of them on a random Live Journal page a while back, and
posted it over in the WTF thread, but didn't know anything about the place. It's really amazing. I'd be afraid to go there.
Damn, I think I'll past on that trip....leave it to the younger set to bring back pictures.
Billy, what have you been doing? Where are you now, still working for Thomson? Are you still having fun or has some woman tied you down?;)
It is said that some people fall down to die from the stepupstairs every year.
Thanks for your kind concers. I changed to a new job into a Candian company this year. I live in Dalian, Liaoning. I think you can figure out where I am from Google Earth. No, I am looking for right one to make relation. Unfortunately, I have not met.
I saw one of them on a random Live Journal page a while back, and posted it over in the WTF thread, but didn't know anything about the place. It's really amazing. I'd be afraid to go there.
The photos were sent by one friend of mine. I have never been to the Mt. Huashan so I cant tell you where it is on this photo. I heard there are many that steps there. Very dangerous!
A Canadian Company? Maybe they'll transfer you to the home office. ;)
I tell you what. I don't think of myself as someone with agoraphobia. But just looking at those pictures make my gut tighten up.
My extreme fear of falling keeps me from seeing places like this in person. Thank you so much for the pictures!!
I wonder what all the padlocks are for, along the chains?
They don't seem to be splicing chains together, maybe they are memorials? You know, like crosses beside the road marking fatalities. :eek3:
*tour guide voice*
...and over here we have the padlock marking the tragic dogshit slide of '97...
To keep idiots from stealing the chains? After all, there's not much else there that you can call "safety equipment".
I don't think so, there's too many of them that are just hanging on a link that couldn't be securing anything. Also, there seems to be a bunch of different kinds, but that may be a supply problem over the pre-capitalist years.:D
Donghai Gongyuan (East Sea Park)
I went to park on 23 Oct.
It is also a batleship museum.
Billy,
I notice that one of the brides is wearing white. Is that a new thing over there? I thought white was for mourning in China?
Now many brides take the wedding photos in white but they wear Chinese style clothes on the weddings.
Thanks, Billy. I always look forward to seeing your new pictures.
Now many brides take the wedding photos in white but they wear Chinese style clothes on the weddings.
I was wondering about the bride in pink. I didn't know they normally didn't wear white.
The Cellar: learn something new every day!
Chinese brides traditionally wear red, pink is a reasonable compromise.
Who are they?
Are you asking the name of the animals? We would call them otters.
You might call them otters, but that probably wouldn't change the fact that they're seals. Harbor seals is my best guess.
Wow, upon closer inspection I see that it is glaringly obvious they are seals. Apparently I had a lobotomy last night in my sleep.
Wow, upon closer inspection I see that it is glaringly obvious they are seals. Apparently I had a lobotomy last night in my sleep.
You otter known better! :lol2:
Thanks Billy, that's a beautiful park. :thumb2:
You might call them otters, but that probably wouldn't change the fact that they're seals. Harbor seals is my best guess.
Something about creativeness...:right:
Oct. 1 is the Chinese National Holiday. Many cities were adorned by lots of beautiful flowers.
I just took some photos thsi evening on my way to hotel from work.
I often stay in the hotel back of Chinese National Flag.
They try to put the different flowers into some geometrical shapes. Unfortunately, I don't know the names of flowers.
The road cross close to my hotel
Can you give me your viewpoints about the flowers?
Hm, 10/10 is natl. day here, but I dunno if i wanna risk getting Billy blocked from the Cellar...
Billy, I don't know about all of the others, but the red flowers are called "Castle Flowers" here. They're some of my favorites. They also come in yellow, orange, and pink.
grass or flower?
Its from the
Coleus species - a flowering plant related to its more well known cousin
Salvia divinorum and valued in certain parts of the world for its supposed hallucinogenic properties although the active ingredient has yet to be identified.
Thanks Billy, sounds like you've been doing a lot of traveling for your company. :thumbsup:
Last week I went to Beijing and had a good week there. I will post you the photos that I took in the trip.
I think you guys have known some about Tiananmen.
1: Chinese National Theater
2. Red wall of Forbidden City
One big problem: Cant see the pix if not sign in. I don't think it is a good idea for the changes. Please try to return the original status. Or I cant share the photos with friends.
I was very lucky that it was sunny. So the photos look well.
Long Live the People's Republic of China
Long Live Wold Peace
HuaBiao: I don't know it's English name.
Lion
More photos will come soon. I will not post if you don't like and I cant show this thread with pix to my friends who are not members of cellar!
We always love your pictures, Billy!
You get to travel a lot, that's fantastic!
yeah, why can't we view pics if not logged in nowadays?
I worry that it's a side-effect of the hack attempt. I will be upgrading the entire forum soon (hopefully tonight) and that should take care of it.
Please carry on posting Billy - I love your photos!
Tian'anmen or The Gate of Heavenly Peace
Tian'anmen, the main entrance to the Forbidden City, is a symbol of the nation and an image of China. When the gate was first built in the 15th Century, it had five gateways and was the main door to the imperial city. Until 1911, and the overthrow of the Ming and Qing dynasties, this was the entrance to the "forbidden area" for ordinary people. The most important function of the Gate Tower was to provide a platform for great ceremonies- Mao's proclamation of the Peoples Republic of China. Mao's image is in the center, surrounded by two slogans: On the left, the motto "Long Live the People's Republic of China", to the right, "Long Live the Great Union between the Peoples of the World". The tourists can climb up the Gate Tower and view Tian'anmen Square.
Beijing Zoo, situated to the west of Beijing Exhibition Center, was known for a short time after the founding of the People's Republic as the Western Suburbs Park (Xijiao Gongyuan). The grounds combine cultivated flower gardens with stretches of natural scenery, including dense groves of trees, stretches of grassland, a small stream, lotus pools and small hills dotted with pavilions and halls.
In the 18th century, the zoo was known as the Sanbeizi Gardens, supposedly named after the third son of Emperor Kangxi, Prince Cheng Yin. Another explanation is that Sanbeizi refereed to the Qing courtier Fu Kang' an and the Gardens the site of his villa. In fact, as early as the Ming Dynasty, an imperial mansion called the Garden of Happiness and Friendship constructed for Prince Kang stood here, and during the Qing, part of the Sanbeizi Gardens called the Garden of Continuity (Jiyuan) became the private property of an official in the Bureau of Palace Affairs.
In 1906, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, the park area became an agricultural experimental farm and a zoo. Known as the Garden of Ten Thousand Animals (Wanshengyuan), it opened to the public in 1908.
Under the successive rule of the Northern Warlords, the Japanese and the Kuomintang, the park became increasingly desolate. The only elephant died in 1937, and the Japanese, under the pretext of protecting themselves against air raids, poisoned the remaining lions, tigers and leopards. On the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the park housed only 12 monkeys, two parrots and a blind emu. The park was reopened to the public in 1950, and on April 10, 1955 formally named the Beijing Zoo.
The zoo has developed rapidly and by 1987 it covered an area of over 40,000 square meters. Bears, elephants, pandas, lions, tigers, songbirds, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, antelopes and giraffes were brought in the late 1950s, and a gorilla cage, leaf-monkey cage and aquarium house, was opened, containing specimens of over 100 species of reptiles from all over the world, including crocodiles and pythons.
At present, the zoo houses over 7,000 creatures of 600 different species, including the giant panda, red-crowned crane and Pere David's deer-all unique to China-as well as the African giraffe, rhinoceros, chimpanzee and antelope; American continent; wild ox from Europe; and elephant and gibbon from India.
Many people go to the zoo just because there are five gaint pandas
The young kid looked like a little hungry, sitting there for food.
The zoo prohibit visitors to feed up the pandas.
I refused to go to any of the zoos in beijing, theyre squalid and horrible, I feel too sorry for the animals to go
The Temple was completed in 1420 and was originally a platform for the Son of Heaven (the emperor) to perform sacrifices and solemn rites. Among the gods worshiped were the god of earth, the god of water, the god of agriculture (who has his own hall in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests), the god of the military, the god of religion and the god of civilians. Offering sacrifices was a serious task, as was atoning the sins of the people. The entire empire relied on the emperor for good fortune and abundant harvests so he had quite a responsibility! The Temple was opened to the public in 1912 and commoners who had previously been banned from even watching the bizarre procession pass through the city to Tiantan, were now permitted to visit the Temple themselves.
The gate of Yuanqiu
The Earthly Mount (圜丘坛) is the altar proper. It is an empty platform on three levels of marble stones, where the Emperor prayed for favourable weather.
There were about 40% foreigners in the park that day.
The Temple buildings and the parklands reflect ancient Chinese religious beliefs that imagine heaven as round and earth as square. Thus, the buildings in the temple are constructed on a central axis. The temples themselves are round and the bases square. Similarly, the Northern part of the park is a semicircular shape and the south, a square. In the south of the Temple complex are the Altar of Heaven and the Echo Wall. The parklands and the Temple are an exquisite place to spend some time, especially in the early morning.
Gate of Echo Wall
The House of Heavenly Lord (皇穹宇), a single-gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone base, where the altars were housed when not in use.
We cant enter the hall of Echo Hall so I don't know if it works.
Just redecorated in 2005.
The Hall of Annual Prayer (祈年殿), a magnificent triple-gabled circular building, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests.
Whole view of Qiniandian
Qinianmen (Gate of Qinian)
In ancient China, the Emperor of China was regarded as the "Son of Heaven", who administered earthly matters on behalf of, and representing, heavenly authority. To be seen to be showing respect to the source of his authority, in the form of sacrifices to heaven, was extremely important. The temple was built for these ceremonies, mostly comprised of prayers for good harvests.
Each winter solstice the Emperor and all his retinue would move through the city to encamp within the complex, wearing special robes and abstaining from eating meat; there the Emperor would personally pray to Heaven for good harvests. The ceremony had to be perfectly completed; it was widely held that the smallest of mistakes would constitute a bad omen for the whole nation in the coming year.
Inside the Hall of Annual Prayer.The Temple of Heaven is the grandest of the four great temples located in Beijing. The other prominent temples include the Temple of Sun in the east (日坛), the Temple of Earth in the north (地坛), and the Temple of Moon in the west (月坛).
According to Xinhua, in early 2005, the Temple of Heaven underwent a 47 million yuan (5.9 million USD) face-lift in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the restoration was completed on May 1st, 2006.
The Temple of Heaven was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
The Temple is surrounded by two cordons of walls; the outer wall has a taller, semi-circular northern end, representing Heaven, and a shorter, rectangular southern end, representing the Earth.
All the buildings within the Temple have special dark blue roof tiles, again representing the Heaven.
The Altar of Heaven was constructed with details representing the number nine, the representative number of the Emperor.
If you stand at the centre of the platform and clap your hands, you can hear the echo because of the concavity of the surrounding wall.
The House of Heavenly Lord is surrounded by a curved wall, 6 metres tall and 32.5 metres in radius. It is nicknamed the 'Echo Wall' because a person at one end of the wall can hear the voice of a person at the other end of the wall.
The Hall of Annual Prayer is 32 metres in diameter and 38 metres tall. It has four inner, twelve middle and twelve outer pillars, representing the four seasons, twelve months and twelve traditional Chinese hours respectively.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was built without a single nail.
Some Chinese Christians consider the Temple of Heaven as a tribute to the Christian God, believing that the belief in Heaven to be an unarticulated reverence for the true God.
The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven (Traditional Chinese: 天壇, Simplified Chinese: 天坛; pinyin: Tiāntán; Manchu: Abkai mukdehun) is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in southeastern urban Beijing, in Xuanwu District. Construction of the complex began in 1420, and was thereafter visited by all subsequent Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although the worship of Heaven, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism.
The Temple grounds covers 2.73 km² of parkland, and comprises three main groups of constructions, all built according to strict philosophical requirements:
Thanks Billy, is all that color just done with paint on wood? :mg:
Thank you Billy, so much amazing detail work! So many colors!
The Temple of Heaven is outstanding!! :)
As for my submission, I know weve seen these before but everytime I see them I marvel. Some of these look so 3 dimentional to be real when really they are only street drawings.
http://www.thepuzzlefactory.com/2006_chalk.cfm
The Summer Palace, one of the finest examples garden architecture in China, is located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing. The 100-odd examples of traditional architecture in the park include pavilions, terraces, temples, pagodas, waterside gazebos, covered corridors, stone bridges and the famous marble boat. The palace occupies a total area of 290 hectares, three quarters of which is made up of shallow lakes.
Suzhou Jie (Suzhou street)
The history of the Summer Palace dates back some 800 years when the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty, Wan Yanliang, moved his capital to the vicinity of Beijing and built his "God Mountain Palace" at the present site of Longevity Hill. A subsequent emperor of the same dynasty diverted the water from the nearby Jade Spring to the Gold Mountain, naming the lake it flowed into the Gold Sea. After the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, Gold Mountain was renamed Jug Mountain (Wengshan), as explained in the following legend: There was once an itinerant old man who discovered a large rock on the slope of Gold Mountain. Breaking it open, he found an earthenware jar hidden inside. The jar's surface was exquisitely carved with flowers, animals and dragons. Inside the jar were many objects of great value which the old man took away with him. Before his departure, however, he brought the jar to the sunny side of the mountain and inscribed it with the following couplet: "When this earthen jar is moved, the emperor's decline shall begin." During the Jiajing period (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty, the jar disappeared and, just as the old man predicted, the dynasty fell into decay.
Before the people of palace run business on the street, made by the style of Suzhou architecture.
In 1292, Guo Shoujing, a Yuan official in charge of irrigation work, suggested digging a riverbed leading all the springs in the vicinity of Jug Mountain to facilitate grain transport. Spring water from Changping, 50 kilometers north of Beijing, was thus led to the foot of Jug Mountain, and the lake was enlarged and renamed Jug Mountain Lake.
The names of the lake and the park and how they have changed over the course of their long history would make a study in itself. In the Yuan Dynasty, Kunming Lake was known as the Big Lake, the West Sea or the West Lake. Visiting West Lake in April was already a popular custom among the people in this period. In the Ming Dynasty a temple was built on the south side of Longevity Hill.
Emperor Zhengde of the Ming (reigned 1506-1521) built a palace on the bank of the lake and called it the Fine Garden for Enjoying Mountains (Haoshanyuan). He also changed Jug Mountain's name back to Gold Mountain and Jug Mountain Lake to Gold Sea. In the early 17th century, the infamous eunuch Zhongxian took over the entire garden for his private use.
When Qing troops occupied Beijing in the middle of the 17th century, the Fine Garden for Enjoying Mountains was renamed Jug Mountain Palace. It was during the reign of Qianlong (1736-1796) that the names of the last time. In commemoration of the 60th birthday of Qianlong's mother, the emperor erected the Temple of Gratitude and Longevity Hill and, following the example of the Han Dynasty Emperor Wu Di who had conducted Kunming Lake naval exercises in the Han capital of Chang' an many centuries before, the Gold Sea was renamed Kunming Lake. At the same, the entire area was called the Park pf Pure Ripples (Qingyiyuan).
The Summer Palace has fallen prey to two acts of destruction. The first took place in 1860 when the Anglo-French forces invaded Beijing and ravaged both the Yuanmingyuan Garden and the Park of Pure Ripples. Every single building in the park was destroyed by fire except nonflammable structures such as bronze pavilions and stone pagodas.
One gate of Suzhoue Jie
Tibetan Tower
In 1888, Empress Dowager Cixi diverted 30 million taels of silver originally designated for the Chinese navy into the reconstruction and enlargement of the Summer Palace. She had the southern side of Longevity Hill laid out in imitation of West Lake in Hangzhou and the northern face in the architectural style of Suzhou. She gave the park its present name: Yiheyuan (Garden of Good Health and Harmony), known generally in English as the Summer Palace.
The figures of Buddha were stolen.
The second great act of destruction took place in 1900 when the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded Beijing. The great temples rebuilt in the 1880s were completely demolished and almost every valuable object in sight stolen by the invading troops. In 1902, when Empress Dawager Cixi returned to Beijing from Xi' an, she ordered the reconstruction of the park. According to historical records, she "rebuilt the Summer Palace with unbounded extravagance and opulence, spending some 40,000 taels of silver per day. Singing and dancing went on without end."
Shifang, one Landmark of Summer Palace
After the Revolution of 1911, the Summer Palace became the private property of the deposed Emperor Puyi, who in 1914 opened the garden to the public. The entrance fee was so high that the palace had very few visitors. In 1924, Puyi was forced to leave the Forbidden City by the "Christian" General Feng Yuxiang, and the Beijing government turned the Summer palace once again fell prey to full-scale devastation; pavilions and covered corridors were destroyed, lakes became silted up, vegetation withered and died, and antiques and other objects of value were lost.
Today, older Beijing residents can still recall some of the palace's former treasures: the statue of the Goddess of Mercy and the watermelon made of kingfisher jade (feicui), the huge jade disc (bi) which "could be traded for several cities," the pearl that glowed at night, and the pearl-embroidered shoes. When the Kuomintang troops fled the mainland, they absconded with these and other treasures, some of which ended up in Taiwan, while he remainder was bought up by museums and private collectors in state of total dilapidation. After the founding of the People' s Republic in 1949, local authorities began the painstaking task of restoration. Today, after more than 40 years of repainting and reconstruction, the Summer Palace plays host to approximately 2 million visitors per year.
There were some foreign visitors in the park that day. October is the best time of Beijing.
The Eastern Palace
The Eastern Palace Gate, or main gate is guarded on each side by two brass lions from the Qianlong period. Set in the center of the staircase is a large slab of stone carved with two dragons amusing themselves with giant pearls. This symbol of imperial power was moved here from the Yuanmingyuan Gardens. Above the gate, the three Chinese characters of the name of the Summer Palace "Yiheyuan" have been inscribed in Emperor Guangxu' s hand. Immediately inside the gate is a "spirit wall," beyond which lies a bow-shaped "moon pond" crossed by a pair of stone bridges. In the days of the Empress Dowager, only she, the emperor and empress were permitted to come here, all other mortals being denied entry by a cordon of mounted guards. Walking west and passing through the Gate of Benevolent Longevity, you come to Palace of Benevolent Longevity (Renshoudian). This edifice was originally named the Palace of Encouraging Good Government . Restored in 1890, its name was changed to the Palace of Benevolent Longevity, an ironic notion derived from an old saying, "Benevolent People live long lives." Here Cixi held audience with high officials and handled the daily affairs of government. This palace once contained the famous screen behind which, out of propriety, Cixi ruled China. Though the screen has long since rotted away, the building still contains a number of interesting treasures: bronze vessels from the Shang Dynasty (c 16th-11th century BC); a screen bearing a scene on Dongting Lake made entirely of kingfisher feathers; lions carved from gnarled roots of trees; and Chinese decorative mirrors dating from the 18th century. Among these treasures is a sandalwood mirror frame carved with dragons, which took 3,600 days of labor to complete, the equivalent of one person working non-stop for 10 years.
North of the Palace of Benevolent Longevity is the Garden of Harmonious Virtue (Deheyuan). When Cixi rebuilt this section of the palace after it had been burned down by the Anglo-French forces, she spent a total of more than 700,000 taels of silver. A good portion of this investment went into the outdoor stage, which stands 21 meters high and has a stage area 17 meters wide, more than five times large than the average in the old days. Actually, the stage is composed of three levels, one on top of the other, and is impressive in several other respects: the ceiling of the lowest level is provided with seven traps through which a actors playing the roles of immortals, spirits or other celestial beings could descend. The stage floor also has seven traps which were used by ghosts and other underworld beings. Beneath the stage is a deep well and five square water tanks. Water was pumped from the tanks in some programs to produce underwater scenes on stage. On Cixi' s birthday every year, the same opera would be performed simultaneously on all three levels.
South from the Palace of Benevolent Longevity, you come to the Hal of Jade Ripples (Yulantang). It is said that the name of this structure comes from a poem by Lu Ji (261-303) which contains the line, "Tiny ripples flow up from the Jade Spring." Built in 1750, it was destroyed by the Anglo-French forces in 1860. Upon its restoration, it served as the private living quarters of Emperor Guangxu, though this luxuriously appointed home soon became his prison. Following the failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, to which Guangxu had lent his support, the Empress Dowager had the emperor imprisoned here and a brick wall built to prevent escape. Originally, Dropping Flowers Gate connected Guangxu' s home with the Hall of Pleasing Rue (Yiyunguan), the residence of his concubines. As a further punishment, Cixi ordered this gate to be sealed up, thus confining Guangxu to his elegant prison. Guangxu got into the habit of tapping his walking stick on the brick floor of his courtyard, carving out the uneven surface of his patio floor.
Between the Hall of Jade Ripples and the Hall of Pleasing Rue stands the Tower of Fine Sunset (Xijialou). Offering an excellent view of the Western Hills, it is an ideal spot for watching the sunset over Kunming Lake. Its eastern wing contains rockery hills and a Forest of (Stone) Lions modeled after the Forest of Lions Garden (Shizilin) in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
Walking north along the shore of the lake and heading west for a short distance, one comes to the Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshoutang), the residence of the Empress Dowager. The eastern and western auxiliary halls were the center of daily activities. Each year, Cixi would move here in May, and not until the 10th day of the 10th lunar month (approximately the end of November), long past her birthday, would she move back to he Forbidden City. The current displays include a throne, imperial tables, screens, palace fans, and other imperial paraphernalia. Whenever "Old Buddha" (one of her favorite names) took a meal here, 128 different dishes would be served at a cost of 100 taels of silver, an amount which could buy enough millet to feed 5,000 peasants for one day. On display in the dining room are a basket of pearls, agate and kingfisher jade (feicui), as well as a panoramic mural on which the flowers of the four seasons are depicted in inlaid designs of gold, silver and precious stones. Magnolia, flowering crabapple and peony fill the courtyard. When the magnolias bloom in early April, the number of visitors increases dramatically. Directly south of the Hall of Joyful Longevity on the lake is a small dock with carved stone balustrades where Cixi would alight when arriving at the Summer Palace by boat.
From the west auxiliary hall of the Hall of Joyful Longevity through the Gate for Greeting the Moon, one comes to the eastern end of the Long Corridor (Changlang). First built in 1750 and destroyed by the Anglo-French forces in 1860, the current structure dates form the Guangxu reign. The total length of the corridor is 728 meters, making it the longest corridor in Chinese garden architecture.
Skirting the northern shoreline of Kunming Lake, the corridor links up the principle structures in this section of the Summer Palace. Four pavilions have been built at regular intervals along its length, each decorated with intricate paintings of flowers and historical figures. Every crossbeam in the Long Corridor is decorated with s colorful painting-17,000 in all. Among stories from Chinese history. Of additional interest are the two large stone kiosks jutting out over the water, making fine resting places on hot summer days.
Thanks Billy. :D
Oh, alamuhan was here last night and we have a
new member.
The Northern Side of Longevity Hill
There is a great contrast between the southern and northern sides of Longevity Hill. While the southern side is lavish to the point of extravagance, the northern slope is more peaceful and less crowed. With its winding hill paths, limpid flowing streams, luxuriant pines and cypresses, and numerous shrubs, the northern side of Longevity Hill reminds one of the countryside of southern China. There was originally a large number of fine buildings here, but with few exceptions they were all destroyed by the Anglo-French forces.
Apart from the long Lilac Corridor, there are only two palaces worthy of mention: the Tower of Great Fortune (Jingfuge) and the Garden pf Harmonious Delights (Xiequyuan).
The Tower of Great Fortune was known as the Palace of Epiphyllum (Tanhuage) during the Qianlong period and was rebuilt in its present form in 1892. This rather large square building is surrounded on all sides by corridors, and was frequented by the Empress Dowager for two main purposes: watching the moon, and admiring the scenery on rainy days. The elevation here permits a fine view of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and the Knowing Spring Pavilion on Kunming Lake. Cixi often dined here on rainy days, for this was an ideal spot from which to gaze out upon the distant hills half-lost in clouds.
East of Longevity Hill in the very northeast corner of the palace stands the"garden within a garden,"the Garden of Harmonious Delights, perhaps the most peaceful and secluded place in the entire Summer Palace. The Garden was built during the Qianlong period. Water from Kunming Lake was led here to form a pond and a complex of ingeniously interconnected buildings was built around it. Since Qianlong copied the buildings themselves after a garden in the Huishan district of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, the garden was first known as Huishan Garden. Its name was changed to the Garden of Harmonious Delights in 1893. The Hall of Embracing the Distance (Hanyuantang) is the central structure in the garden. Here the Empress Dowager would drink tea or perhaps take an afternoon nap. Everything in the hall remains as Cixi left it; there are sculptures of characters from the famous Qing novel A Dream of Red Mansions and an exquisite bamboo carved sailboat with 68 miniature figures of old men, each with their own distinct gestures and facial features.
Had the Anglo-French forces not destroyed the series of buildings on the banks of the Suzhou Creek in the rear section of the palace, they would not only be a favorite spot for visitors, but also a valuable resource for studying the social economy of the Qing Dynasty. In the old days, both sides of the creek in the vicinity of the Long Bridge were laid out with streets containing a variety of commercial establishments, such as teahouses, wine shops, bookstores and antique shops. Known as Suzhou Street, this area enabled the imperial family, entirely cut off from the normal society of the country they ruled, to taste Beijing urban life. The roles of the shopkeepers were played by court eunuchs, and when the imperial party approached, they would begin shouting to attract their customers' attention, just as in real life.
By crossing Long Bridge and walking north, one will come to the North Palace Gate, which was originally the main gate of the summer Palace.
At the eastern end of Suzhou Street stands a large gate-like structure which is inscribed on his eastern side with the words "Early morning light" and on its western side with "Gathering brilliance." This is yet another example of southern Chinese architecture.
The Southern Side of Longevity Hill
The main structure in the central architectural complex on the southern side of Longevity Hill is the Palace of parting Clouds (Paiyundian). This is fronted by a memorial archway built on the edge of the lake inscribed with the words "The myriad stars surround the Polar Star" and "The radiance of the clouds shines through the jade firmament." Between the archway and the Palace of Parting Clouds there are a number of evergreens and 12 Taihu Lake stones which represent the Chinese astrological animals. A n elegant pair of bronze lions guards the Gate of Parting Clouds. Inside the gate is a courtyard with buildings on each side; to the east is the Hall of Brilliant Jade and to the west the Hall of Brocade Clouds. A lotus pond in the courtyard is spanned by a stone bridge which leads to the gates of standing on the northern side of the courtyard, was the site of Empress Dowager Cixi' s birthday celebrations. There was a temple here in the Ming Dynasty, which was rebuilt during the Qianlong period and called the Temple of Gratitude and Longevity. After its destruction by the Anglo-French forces. Its name is taken from a poem by Guo Pu (276-324): "The immortals emerge from between parting clouds; a terrace of silver and gold appears."
The Palace of Parting Clouds, built on a stone terrace with staircases on three sides, is surrounded by white stone balustrades. The terrace in front of the palace is called the"Cinnabar Staircase."Bronze dragons, phoenixes, sacrificial vessels and large water vats are on display. The interior is similar to that of the Hall of Benevolent Longevity, including an oil portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi painted in 1903 by Katherine A. Carl, an American who also wrote a book about Cixi. Though the portrait was executed in Cixi' s 69th year, it flattered her to the likeness of a 30-year-old woman.
Covered staircases on either side of the Palace of Parting Clouds lead to the Hall of Virtuous Light. At the top is the highest point in the entire Summer Palace, the Pagoda of Buddhist Fragrance. This 38-meter-high pagoda, designed after the Yellow Crane Pagoda in Wuchang, Hubei Province, is supported by four hardwood columns. The immense task of restoration was begun in 1953. Repainting alone, applying some 600 kilograms of dark blue paint and 2.5 kilograms of pure gold leaf, took 16,000 worker-days.
The Revolving Scripture Repository (Zhuanlunzang) is the name given to the buildings east of the Pagoda of Buddhist Fragrance, which contain a large carved stone tablet. The 10-meter-tall tablet is inscribed with the words "Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake" in the hand of Qianlong. On its back is a short essay, "A Record of Kunming Lake," also in Qianlong' s hand. On either side are pavilions housing miniature octagonal pagodas, which revolve on vertical axles. These curious religious structures, designed to store Buddhist scriptures, are modeled after those in the Fayuan Temple in Hangzhou. The third pavilion is the so-called Bronze Pavilion. Standing 7.55 meters tall and weighing more than 200,000 kilograms, every detail resembles were executed with the lost wax method. Inside is a list of the craftsmen who took part in its construction.
The southern side of the Longevity Hill is full of smaller buildings with picturesque names, which will only be mentioned briefly. First, to the east: The House of Leisure (Zizaizhuang), dating from 1903, was built in the style of an old-fashioned country teahouse; the Hall for Nourishing Clouds (Yangyunxuan), divided into two side halls, served during the time of Cixi as a resting place of higher-ranking concubines, members of the imperial clan, and women who had been granted official titles; the Hall of Limitless Pleasure (Wujinyixuan), facing a small lotus pond, is an ideal place of retreat from the heat of summer; and finally, the Hall of Longevity (Jieshoutang) is surrounded by wonderful cypresses and magnolias.
To the west, there is Shao' s Nest, named after a Song Dynasty philosopher, Shao Yong, who called his retirement home the Nest of Peace and Joy. Another "nest," the Nest of Pines and Clouds, is derived from a line in a poem by the famous Tang poet Li Bai: "Here I will make my nest in the pines and clouds." The Pavilion of the Stone Gentleman (Shizhangting) recalls the Song painter and calligrapher Mi Fei, who would bow in reverence whenever he came upon a strange stone. To the west of the Pavilion of the Stone gentleman is a group of buildings called the Four Western Pavilions (Xisiting). Originally built by Qianlong, they were refurbished in 1892 to serve as a residence of the imperial concubines. After the failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, the Empress Dowager temporarily imprisoned Emperor Guangxu' s favorite, Concubine Zhen, in these precincts.
The listening to the Orioles Hall, the site of a popular restaurant, was first built in the 18th century and refurbished during the Guangxu reign. Fine old pine trees grow in its courtyards, while its exterior is planted with apricot trees and bamboo. To the rear of the hall stands the Strolling-Through-a-Painting Pavilion (Huazhongyou), a two-story building, which is flanked by the Adoration for the Hill Pavilion on the east and the Borrowing from Autumn Pavilion on the west. Covered galleries connect these two side pavilions with the main one. The name Strolling-Through-a-Painting Pavilion comes from the fact that standing on the exquisite veranda, it is easy to imagine oneself being part of a landscape painting.
To the west of the Stone Gentleman Pavilion. A rather unseaworthy boat sits permanently docked with its bow jutting out into the lake. This is the famous Marble boat, an ironic reminder that the funds appropriated by the Empress Dowager to reconstruct the Summer Palace had originally been earmarked for the Chinese navy. The boat's hull is of stone and Cixi herself in the style of an old steamship designed its two-story wooden cabin. To the east of the Marble Boat is the Hall of Accumulated Ripples from where pleasure boats set out for rides around the lake.
The Palace Lakes
To the south of Longevity Hill is a vast expanse of water embellished with a number of small islands and a long embankment. The islands take their names from the structures built upon them: the Knowing Spring Pavilion; the Phoenix Pier; the Mirror Tower; and the Hall of Ornate Mirrors. The most accessible is the Southern Lake Island.
The Temple of the Dragon King is the main point of interest on the Southern Lake Island. Seen from afar, it resembles a mythical fairy mountain in the middle of the sea. The Southern Lake Island is connected to the shore by the magnificent Seventeen-Arch Bridge, which is decorated with numerous sculptures of lions. A large bronze bull sits on the shore at he east end of the bridge, ostensibly for the purpose of suppressing floods. An "Inscription to the Golden Bull" is cast in ancient seal characters on the bull's is cast in ancient seal characters on the bull's back. The Tapestry of Ripples Bridge (Xiuyiqiao) at the southern end of the lake narks the former site of a lock, which connected kunming Lake with the old canal, which leads to the center of the capital. Nearby are the tomb of Yelu Chucai, the famous advisor to Genghis Khan, and a naturally formed swimming pool.
The Western Embankment, totaling 2.5 kilometers, leads from the Willow Bridge in the south to the Lake Edge Bridge (Jiehuqiao) in the northwest corner of the palace. Peach and willow trees grow along its entire length and six bridges dotted on it were designed in imitation of those on the Su Dyke (Sudi) on Hangzhou's West Lake. The highest of the bridges is the superb Jade Belt Bridge (Yudaiqiao), known also as the Camel's Back Bridge, because of its tall and elegant arch.
Summer is naturally the finest time of year to visit the Summer Palace. By the end of April, winter jasmine and mountain peach make their early debut on the northern side of the Longevity Hill. Not long after this, flaming-red plums and sweet almonds come into bloom, followed by Chinese crabapples and lilacs. Next, magnolias and peonies, the "king of flowers," are in full bloom, while Chinese wisteria and herbaceous peonies are in bud along the Long Corridor. The mock oranges in front of the Palace of Parting Clouds bloom in mid-May, while the season for lotuses extends from July to October. At the height of summer, jasmine and osmanthus send forth their fragrance. The frost-defying autumn chrysanthemums bring this symphony of flowers to a splendid close, making their debut on October 1, China's National Day.
Note: Tingliguan, or the Hall for Listening to the Orioles located in the middle section of the Longevity Hill, where the Dowager Empress watched opera, is now a restaurant serving dishes cooked with the recipes from the royal kitchen.
www.china.org.cn
Did you climb the temple on Longevety Hill?
Tried some temples but not the big one.
The view from up there is incredible, you can see the city from up there on a good day.
A Brief History of the Palace Museum
http://www.dpm.org.cn/english/default.asp
The Palace Museum, historically and artistically one of the most comprehensive Chinese museums, was established on the foundation of the palace that was the ritual center of two dynasties, the Ming and the Qing, and their collections of treasures. Designated by the State Council as one of China's foremost protected monuments in 1961, the Palace Museum was also made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
Situated at the heart of Beijing, the Palace Museum is approached through Tiananmen Gate. Immediately to the north of the Palace Museum is Prospect Hill (also called Coal Hill), while on the east and west are Wangfujing and Zhongnanhai neighborhoods. It is a location endowed with cosmic significance by ancient China's astronomers. Correlating the emperor's abode, which they considered the pivot of the terrestrial world, with the Pole Star (Ziweiyuan), which they believed to be at the center of the heavens, they called the palace The Purple Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was built from 1406 to 1420 by the third Ming emperor Yongle who, upon usurping the throne, determined to move his capital north from Nanjing to Beijing. In 1911 the Qing dynasty fell to the republican revolutionaries. The last emperor, Puyi, continued to live in the palace after his abdication until he was expelled in 1924. Twenty-four emperors lived and ruled from this palace during this 500-year span.
The Forbidden City is surrounded by 10-metre high walls and a 52-metre wide moat. Measuring 961 meters from north to south and 753 meters from east to west, it covers an area of 720,000 square meters. Each of the four sides is pierced by a gate, the Meridian Gate (Wu men) on the south and the Gate of Spiritual Valor (Shenwu men) on the north being used as the entrance and exit by tourists today. Once inside, visitors will see a succession of halls and palaces spreading out on either side of an invisible central axis. It is a magnificent sight, the buildings' glowing yellow roofs against vermilion walls, not to mention their painted ridges and carved beams, all contributing to the sumptuous effect.
Known as the Outer Court, the southern portion of the Forbidden City centers on the halls of Supreme Harmony, Central Harmony, and Preserving Harmony. These are flanked by the halls of Literary Glory and Military Eminence. It was here that the emperor held court and conducted his grand audiences.
Mirroring this arrangement is the Inner Court at the northern end of the Forbidden City, with the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility straddling the central axis, surrounded by the Six Palaces of the East and West and the Imperial Garden to the north. Other major buildings include the halls for Worshipping Ancestors and of Imperial Splendor on the east, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers and the Palace of Benevolent Tranquility on the west. These contain not only the residences of the emperor and his empress, consorts and concubines but also the venues for religious rites and administrative activities.
In total, the buildings of the two courts account for an area of some 163,000 square meters. These were laid out precisely in accordance with a code of architectural hierarchy, which designated specific features to reflect the paramount authority and status of the emperor. No ordinary mortal would have been allowed or even dared to come within close proximity of these buildings.
Duan Gate
Wu Gate
After the republican revolution, this Palace as a whole would have been sequestered by the Nationalist government were it not for the "Articles of Favorable Treatment of the Qing House" which allowed Puyi to live on in the Inner Court after his abdication. Meanwhile, all of the imperial treasures from palaces in Rehe (today's Chengde) and Mukden (today's Shenyang) were moved to the Forbidden City for public display in History Museum established at the Outer Court in 1914. While confined to the Inner Court, Puyi continuously used such vestiges of influence as still remained to plot his own restoration. He also systematically stole or pawned a huge number of cultural relics under the pretext of granting them as rewards to his courtiers and minions or taking them out for repair.
In 1924, during a coup launched by the warlord Feng Yuxiang, Puyi was expelled from the Forbidden City and the management of the palace fell to the charge of a committee set up to deal with the concerns of the deposed imperial family. The committee began a sorting and counting of the imperial treasures. A year of intense preparations later, its members arranged a grand ceremony on 10 October 1925 in front of the Palace of Heavenly Purity to mark the inception of the Palace Museum. News of the opening flashed across the nation, and such was the scramble of visitors on the first day that traffic jams around Beijing brought the city almost to a standstill.
According to a 28-volume inventory published in 1925, the treasure trove left by the Qing numbered more than 1,170,000 items including sacrificial vessels and ancient jade artifacts from the earliest dynasties; paintings and calligraphy from the Tang, Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties; porcelain from the Song and Yuan; a variety of enamelware and lacquer ware; gold and silver ornaments; relics in bamboo, wood, horn and gourds; religious statues in gold and bronze; as well as numerous imperial robes and ornaments; textiles; and furniture. In addition, there were countless books, literary works and ancient records. All these were divided into separate collections of antiquities, library materials and historical documents and placed under teams of staff to sort and collate. Exhibition halls were opened to display some of the treasures, while writers and editors worked away at publishing in book or journal form all the new areas of research and academic inquiry that the establishment of the museum had ushered in. The Palace Museum was soon a hive of activity.
Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, the Japanese, having annexed territory in China's northeast, proceeded to march on Beijing. With this looming threat, the museum authorities decided to evacuate its collection rather than let it fall into enemy hands or risk destruction in battle. For four frantic months between February and May 1933, the most important pieces in the collection were packed into 13,427 crates and 64 bundles and sent to Shanghai in five batches. From there they were dispatched to Nanjing where a depository was built and a branch of the Palace Museum established.
On 7 July 1937 shots fired around Marco Polo Bridge west of Beijing heralded the eruption of the Sino-Japanese War. Within a year, the Japanese had penetrated to most of eastern China. Now the treasures stored in Nanjing had to be moved again, this time by three routes to Sichuan, where they were secreted in three locations, Baxian, Emei and Leshan. Only at the end of the war were they consolidated in Chongqing, whence they were returned to Nanjing in 1947. By then the Nationalists were considerably weakened, and with the imminent takeover by the Communist armies of areas south of the Yangtze, they began their retreat to Taiwan. Between the end of 1948 and the dawn of 1949, the Nationalists picked relics to fill 2,972 crates for shipping across the Strait. A rival Palace Museum was set up in Taipei to display these antiquities. Most of what were left were gradually returned to Beijing, although to this day 2,221 crates remain in safe-keeping in storag in Nanjing.
During this tumultuous decade of war and revolution, not one item of the treasures was lost or damaged even though the volume involved was enormous. This was largely due to the dedicated energy of the Palace Museum staff, whose achievement in preserving these treasures was nothing short of heroic. But it was also as a result of this long period of upheaval that the treasures have been dispersed. Yet the rationale for keeping the collection together, representative as it is of the motherland's traditional culture, seems so incontestable that most people believe the treasures will be re-united one day.
In the early 1950s, shortly after the establishment of the People's Republic, the Palace Museum staff worked with a new will and enthusiasm to return the Forbidden City to its former glory. Where previously the dirty and dilapidated halls and courts lay under weeds and piles of rubbish, some 250,000 cubic meters of accumulated debris were now cleared out, giving the place a sparkling fresh look. A policy of comprehensive rehabilitation was also launched, and in time the crumbling palace buildings, repaired, and redecorated, looked resplendent once more. All the tall buildings were equipped with lightning conductors, while modern systems of fire protection and security were installed. It has been a priority of the People's Government, particularly since the beginning of the reform era in the early 1980s, to keep the surrounding moat dredged and clean.
As for the collection of antiquities, a systematic inventory was completed during the 1950s and 1960s, redressing the legacy of inaccurate cataloguing. The collection was moreover augmented, for example by the salvage of a number of precious artifacts from a jumble of apparently worthless objects. After more than a decade of painstaking efforts, some 710,000 relics from the Qing palace were retrieved. At the same time, through national allocations, requisitions and private donations, more than 220,000 additional pieces of cultural significance were added, making up for such omissions from the original Qing collection as colored earthenware from the Stone Age, bronzes and jades from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, pottery tomb figurines from the Han Dynasty, stone sculpture from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and tri-color glazed pottery from the Tang Dynasty. The ancient paintings, scrolls and calligraphy added to the collection were particularly spectacular. These included, from the Jin Dynasty, Lu Ji's cursive calligraphy "A consoling letter" (Ping fu tie), Wang Xun's " Letter to Boyuan (Bo yuan tie) and Gu Kaizhi's "Goddess of the Luo River" (Luo shen fu tu); from the Sui Dynasty, Zhan Ziqian's landscape handscroll "Spring Outing" (You chun tu) ; from the Tang Dynasty, Han Huang's "Five Oxen" (Wu niu tu ), Du Mu's running-cursive script handscroll "Song of the Courtesan Zhan Haohao" (Zhang haohao shi) ; from the Five Dynasties, Gu Hongzhong's "The Night Revels of Han Xizai" (Han Xizai yeyan tu) "; from the Song Dynasty, Li Gonglin's "Painting after Wei Yan's Pasturing Horses" (Lin Wei Yan mu fang tu) Guo Xi's "Dry tree and rock, level distance landscape" (Ke shi pingyuan tu), and Zhang Zeduan's "Going up River on Spring Festival" (Qingming shang he tu)--all masterpieces without exception.
Wuying Hall
Unremitting though this attempt at recovery has been, however, there have been further exertions in recent years to acquire such works as Zhang Xian's "Landscape with Poems (Shi yong tu)" (Song Dynasty), Nai Xian's calligraphy "Ancient poem on south of the city" (Cheng nan yong gu shi) (Yuan Dynasty), Shen Zhou's landscape handscroll "After Huang Gongwang's 'Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains'" (Fang Huang Gongwang fuchun shan ju tu) (Ming Dynasty), Shi Tao's ink bamboo "Calling Wen Yuke" (Gao hu Yu ke tu) (Qing Dynasty). The first two were spirited out of the palace by the last emperor Puyi on the excuse of bestowing them on his brother Pu Jie; they fell into the hands of others and only now have been returned to their rightful place in the Palace Museum collection.
From the 1950s onwards, the museum's existing storehouses were completely overhauled to provide a damp-proof and insect-proof environment for the treasures. In the 1990s a new storehouse with a capacity of over 600,000 items was built, equipped with controls for maintaining constant temperature and humidity, as well as safeguards against fire and theft. A workshop was established in the 1950s and expanded in the 1980s to encompass a scientific Conservation Department. These not only continued traditions of craftsmanship, but also drew upon scientific discoveries to facilitate the restoration of damaged relics. In the past few decades the Conservation Department has treated as many as 110,000 objects from the Palace Museum and other public collections. Besides its continuous refurbishment of the main courts and halls, the museum has opened galleries to display bronzes, porcelain, crafts, paintings and calligraphy, jewelry, and clocks to expand the scope of its exhibitions. A number of thematic shows have been held in galleries devoted to temporary exhibitions; in recent years these have included such acclaimed ones as "A Comparison of Authentic and Counterfeit Paintings and Calligraphy", "Genuine and Imitation Examples of Ancient Porcelain and Materials from Ancient Kilns", "The Art of Packaging at the Qing Court" and "Selections from the Finest Acquisitions of the Last Fifty Years". Traveling exhibitions have also graced various provincial museums and museums abroad. In fact, since the beginning of the economic-reform era, an increasing number of exhibitions have been mounted in countries such as Britain, the USA, France, the former Soviet Union, Germany, Austria, Spain, Australia, Japan and Singapore, among others. All of them have aroused great interest and admiration and played a key part in the promotion of international understanding and cultural exchange.
The number of visitors to the Palace Museum has risen along with the growth of tourism, in the last decade reaching six to eight million a year.
General interest has been further stimulated by the Palace Museum's range of publications touching on both the architecture of its buildings and its vast cultural holdings. Published works include Famous Historical Paintings in the Palace Museum Collection, Selected Porcelain from the Palace Museum Collection, National Treasures, Palaces of the Forbidden City, Daily Life in the Forbidden City, A Collection of National Treasures, and The Complete Palace Museum Collection (in 60 volumes, of which 18 have been published so far). There are also two periodicals, The Palace Museum and The Forbidden City.
Since 1997, the Palace Museum's administration has been significantly reorganized. Where previously there were three departments covering conservation, exhibition and research, these have now been split into the departments of Antiquities; of Painting and Calligraphy; of Palace Arts; and the Exhibition, Promotion and Education Department. With substantial investment, the latest technology has been deployed by the newly established Resources and Information Center to set up the Palace Museum website. The website you are now browsing enables all, even those in distant places, to enjoy a sightseeing tour of this mysterious palace and feast their eyes on its splendid treasures.
The creation of a state-of-the-art virtual Imperial Palace is no longer just a dream.
They look like wonderful after new decoration.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony in processing
This hall looks like the real old building.
Many things in the hall were stolen to Taiwan or other western countries.
The Wall of Nine-Dagron
The are only 3 old walls of nine-dragon in China now.
Do you know the male or female?
Lion with a wall is male standing the left side of gate. Lion with a small kid is femake.
The door with bats
Ceiling
Ceiling
It is not a glass ceiling. So I think you can break the ceiling. :)
Zhenfei Well
Zhenfei, the wife of emperor, tried to help him to reform the court. Cixi empress, the mother of emperor, found that the reform would influence her status. Cixi punished Zhenfei and sent her to the narrow well. After one year, her bones were moved out.
Fire Jar
Almost all buildings were made by brickes and wood. Some bulidings got fire and burnt. So many jars were put to save water. There were heating oven under the jars in winter to prevent from icing.
Stone step
It is the largest step in China. I heard that it took over one year to move it from one close mountain to place.
Another office, but not mine. Heehee
Overhead view from one moutain of the Jiangshan Park
Zhouzhuang, one of the most famous water townships in China, situated in Kunshan City which is only 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Suzhou. It is noted for its profound cultural background, the well preserved ancient residential houses, the elegant watery views and the strong local colored traditions and customs. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), Zhouzhuang was a part of the fief Yaocheng and called Zhenfengli. After being donated to Full Fortune (Quanfu) Temple by Zhou Digong, a very devout Buddhist, in 1086 during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127), Zhouzhuang got its present name as a memorial of the donor.
In an area of half a square kilometer (124 acres), 60 percent of the Zhouzhuang's structures were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is from 1368 to 1911. Taking the most convenient form of transport in Zhouzhuang, a gondola, we will present some of the breathtaking sights one by one.
The Double Bridges (Shuang qiao): Zhouzhuang is surrounded and divided by lakes and rivers, 14 stone bridges cross the rivers, showing distinctive views of the water-town. Twin Bridges which comprise Shide Bridge and Yongan Bridge are the most famous and is considered the symbol of Zhouzhuang. Built in Wanli era (1573 - 1619) of the Ming Dynasty, Twin Bridges is in the northeast of the town. Shide Bridge is east-west and has a round arch, while Yongan Bridge is north-south and the bridge arch is square. Crossing the two crisscross rivers (Yinzi Creek and Nabeishi River) and connecting at the middle, Twin Bridges look like a Chinese old-style Chinese key. In 1984, 38 canvases of the notable painter, Chen Yifei, were exhibited in a New York gallery of Armand Hammer, chairman of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. 'Memory of Hometown' which depicts Twin Bridges was one of the items on display and has gained the world's attention for Zhouzhuang. The painting was chosen to be the first-day cover of the United Nations' postage stamp in 1985.
More pix of double bridge
Fuan Bridge: Located at the eastern end of Zhongshi Jie, Fuan Bridge was built in 1355 during the Yuan Dynasty. The unique trait of the Fuan is the consummate combination of the single-arch bridge and the bridge towers which have , are used as tearooms, restaurants and stores, and are good places to appreciate the views while taking a rest.
Fantastic images Billy! Thank you so much. I love the water city, and the pictures of the nine dragon wall, and the relief carving between the longest steps. Thanks again!
ZhouZhuang makes me think of Holland. I wonder if they had ice skates too?
Thanks, Billy. :thumb2:
I also have to comment on ZhouZhuang. It's beautiful. I love the canals. Reminds me of Amsterdam or Venice. It would be fun to kayak through them.
I also have to comment on ZhouZhuang. It's beautiful. I love the canals. Reminds me of Amsterdam or Venice. It would be fun to kayak through them.
Is this a typo? Should be "It would be fun to sit beside them with a beer and a good friend?" surely?
Again, Billy, great photos. The detail on the palaces is magnificent. I totally agree with Bruce and Glatt, ZhouZhuang is beautiful - do many Western tourists visit there, or mainly Chinese?
Is this a typo? Should be "It would be fun to sit beside them with a beer and a good friend?" surely?
Oh, crap. I should proof read a little better. You're right, of course.
Fremont Troll of Seattle, WA, US
You guys really need to go see some of these....NSFW on this site!
http://haha.nu/funny/strange-statues-around-the-world
Good link, skysidhe. Thanks. :thumbsup:
I went to Shanghai Art Museum one weekend and happened to see the Oil Paiting there.
Unknown Day
It is interesting that there is the "action". Heehee
King Kong
Pet
King Kong? So funny. I thought I was lost in a Panada world.
Their Victory
Yours, guy? Bush? Victory in Iraq? Or next country?
Mountain
The artist created a wonderful world. I think that's why we all like the art.
It is yourself in mirror
Express weekend
Enchanted Wall
I don't understand the paintings.
Woman in the Brisk of Break-down
Their Victory
This is from a famous (in the USA) picture, raising the flag at the island of Iwo Jima. The USA won a very tough battle there, and it is considered an important point in the war against Japan.
I dig the enchanted wall paintings the most, they seem foggy, mysterious, the more you look, imagine, the more you may see.
A friend who just got back from Asia was talking to me about how wierd it was to have both the subdued, kind of epic aesthetic of traditional (in her case Japanese) images and objects, contrasted with the explosion of acidic pop culture media. I kind of see that in this exhibition, too.
hey Billy, we are going to have an exhibition of Chinese photography here in Minnesota next year. some of the artists are Liu Xiaodi, Jiang Jian, Zhang Xinmin, Luo Yongjin, Zhou Hai, and Lu Yuanmin- documenting contemporary life and the rapid changing, urbanization in China. Are these artists famous at all? Have you heard of them?
Wow, Billy. These photos are all so amazing! Would you mind if I used one or two of them for reference when I decide to start painting again? Not the paintings, but the photos, like the opera performance? Thank you for sharing these.
Wow, Billy. These photos are all so amazing! Would you mind if I used one or two of them for reference when I decide to start painting again? Not the paintings, but the photos, like the opera performance? Thank you for sharing these.
Sure. I would like send you the original photos if you need them.
hey Billy, we are going to have an exhibition of Chinese photography here in Minnesota next year. some of the artists are Liu Xiaodi, Jiang Jian, Zhang Xinmin, Luo Yongjin, Zhou Hai, and Lu Yuanmin- documenting contemporary life and the rapid changing, urbanization in China. Are these artists famous at all? Have you heard of them?
I have not checked the related information about them. I think you are the good artists.
Facial Expression of Beauty
Prisoner
Prison Break? I like the show.
From Where is the Pickhead
From Where is the Brick
Bajiao if Li Shan
Xu Wei's Book of Flower
Green Sothern Mountain
Thunder Soaring Sky
Incompleted Images
Every Leaf
Nice Billy, (except for Express weekend:rolleyes:), I'd like to see "Unknown day" and "Enchanted wall", full size.
Feather Clouds
Buddha of Thousand Hands
Travel - Jing Fan Mountian
Exile
Picknick on Grass
I have more small size paintings and not have time enough to post here.
Street
The corner of the museum
I stayed in Shanghai two days for New Year. It was very sunny, very good weather for SH in winter.
The TV Tower (Eastern Pearl) is the the symbol of Shanghai. Jinmao Tower (The high bulding beside TV tower) is the highest building in China mainland for now.
I like Shanghi! Well from the pictures anyway :)
where is that library?
I haven't read this whole thread (would take me a day) but did you see the pictures of Hong Kong harbour posted on the 'Net a few weeks back? All pictures of the same view at different times of day and weather etc. --absolutely awesome. If you want (and if I ever get out of newbie status) I'll post.
Mmm, shanghai's a pretty city. I've got a little statue of the Pearl Tower - It's really handy for opening stuck disk drives.
where is that library?
:smack: I didn't leave the link did I! I am so sorry. I don't know. I have a web applications that send me random pages. I didn't save the link.:(
[edit- I do know it is pictures from
two different librarys. I probably chose the two from some cold northern country. * shrug *]
The second is
here
The other
here.
:lol:
OK, seriously, go to;
http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/categories/C32/P15/#ext3223
The first article should be, "Red-Hot and Filthy Library Smut" (unfortunately the title is completely misleading)
At the bottom of the paragraph, click on "view full text". Then scroll down through 14 incredible library images. You'll be glad you did.
By the way, skysidhe's images are, HANDELINGENKAMER TWEEDE KAMER DER STATEN-GENERAAL DEN HAAG and RIJKMUSEUM AMSTERDAM....but you knew that, right?
I went hometown to have the Chinese New Year with families. It was taken in the outdoor market. There were a lot of people before the CNY.
New houses of our village
Workshop of Glass Noodles
Welcome back Billy. Hope you had a good trip home. :D
The second is here
The other here.
:lol:
OK, seriously, go to; http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/categories/C32/P15/#ext3223
The first article should be, "Red-Hot and Filthy Library Smut" (unfortunately the title is completely misleading)
At the bottom of the paragraph, click on "view full text". Then scroll down through 14 incredible library images. You'll be glad you did.
By the way, skysidhe's images are, HANDELINGENKAMER TWEEDE KAMER DER STATEN-GENERAAL DEN HAAG and RIJKMUSEUM AMSTERDAM....but you knew that, right?
oh woah, I am so busy and distracted I have not been to this thread for so long. Of course it is in the url addy.I didn't even think of looking there! :smack: I guess this is why yer the mod. :blush:
Liked the 'smut' page btw. I particularly liked the boot,outlined in red ink, squashing the bug . :D
Camera shop.
Taken by an old friend who works there, showing me the lens.
Haven't I seen that picture before? :confused:
Hmmmm... if I posted it before, sorry. Bad short term for some odd reason.
Oh, ok. I was wondering if I was losing it? Well, I was wondering if this was yet another sign, that I'm losing it.:lol:
Cool shot I didn't know where to show it. It's not really suburban either.
Yeah, we don't really have a place for stuff like this. I started a thread for cool stuff but it died in it's infancy. :cool:
wow...that's an awesome picture
yeah thanks Aliantha. I thought it was cool too. Makes a good desktop pic too!;)
It is hard to categorize somethings xob. Suburban impression just sounds wrong. :neutral:
Here is a link to the site I found it on.
http://www.dowwallpaper.com/Sure. I would like send you the original photos if you need them.
Billy, I plan to soon paint from some of your photos. I would like to send you prints of whatever I paint that is inspired by your photos. Could you pm me your address so I could send those to you when I am finished?
After supper, I went to my hotel room. It was surprised to see the birthday cake. Actually, it is the birthday on my ID card but not my real birthday. My parents used the lunar calender for our birthdays. On the official document, they made the wrong date. Anyway, it is good to have a good cake.
Was the cake from the hotel?
Excellent service if so!
Looks yummy! Happy sort-of birthday!
Well, Happy second Birthday, Billy. Hope that doesn't make you get old twice as fast. Nice to see some healthy fruit on top of that sugar and lard.
I went to Weihai, Shandong in May holiday. It is a middle coastal city but the beach is very beautiful.
sphere
compass
It is a public park on the beach.
The name is View on View. For me, I would like say "Preserved Photo Frame for you".
Fllowers, trees, grass and sea
Kelp collector
Although it was a warm spring, the water was still very cold. I don't know how they could stand in the sea for the kelps charge free.
Yellow flowers
The color was too good to be true
Bamboo Roots in Spring
Flower of Ocean
Have not come here for long. I was too busy on work. Don't know if you want to see my pictures.
Great Billy, thank you!
Has there been a big increase in public art? Is it mostly in places tourists would go?
These are great pictures! Thank you for sharing them.
Have not come here for long. I was too busy on work. Don't know if you want to see my pictures.
I do! They're always interesting Billy, thank you. :thumb:
I see one picture of three guys that I don't know.
My Olympus DSLR will be here sometime next week, so... Expect me to start taking a lot more pictures soon. Including pictures around Taipei, obviously. If they're any good, they're going here. Kay?
I happended to see that foreigners had the Chinese style wedding.
The wedding is the beginning of marriage.
Thanks Billy, are all the people part of the wedding or are some of them just crossing the street at the same time?
Hey, welcome back Billy. Tell your boss that you need to spend more time on the Cellar or your Qi is going to get all messed up. :) Works for me, anyway.
Great pics as always.
Oh, and if you ever happen by Honk Kong let me know. I need you to find somebody and smack 'em upside the head for me.
:smashfrea
Thank you, Billy. I love seeing your pictures.
Are the bride and groom in any of those pictures?
I'd bet he's the one in the third picture smiling at the camera. Westerner with yellow robe and red sash with big bow.
The red conveyance would be holding her, then. So she's not visible.
Where in China is this?
I'd bet he's the one in the third picture smiling at the camera. Westerner with yellow robe and red sash with big bow.
The red conveyance would be holding her, then. So she's not visible.
Where in China is this?
You are right. The bride was in the sedan chair and groom was guy with red flower.
It was taken in Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
With the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park to its east, Zhong Nan Hai (Central and South Seas) to its south, Beihai (North Sea) Park is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China located in the center of Beijing. This ancient garden, with over 1,000 years' history, is not only a classic combination of the grandiosity of the northern gardens and the refinement of the southern gardens in China, but also a perfect integration of magnificent imperial palaces and solemn religious constructions.
Beihai Park is said to be built according to a traditional Chinese legend. The story is that once upon a time there were three magic mountains called 'Penglai', 'Yingzhou' and 'Fangzhang' located to the east of Bohai Bay (to the east of China). Gods in those mountains had a kind of herbal medicine which would help humans gain immortality.
Consequently, many emperors in the feudal age of China constantly sought those mountains. For example, Emperor Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 B.C.), wanted to live an eternal life and had sent people to look for the magic mountains but they failed. Then at his palace, he dug a large pool and piled up three earth hills in it to imitate the circumstances described in the legend. Emperor Wudi, the fifth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C. - 8 A.D.) did similar things.
It was believed that different mountain-water combinations in ancient Chinese architecture led to totally different effects. So from then on, almost every emperor during the succeeding dynasties would build a royal garden with one-pool-with-three-hills' layout as a fairyland near his palace. Beihai Park was surely built after this traditional style: the water of Beihai (North Sea) with Zhong Nan Hai (Central and South Seas) is the Taiye Pool; the Jade Flowery (Qionghua) Islet, the island of the Circular City and the Xishantai Island represent the three magic mountains.
Actually, Beihai Park was initially built in the Liao Dynasty (916 - 1125) and was repaired and rebuilt in the following dynasties including Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing (1115 - 1911). The large-scale rebuilding in the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) generally established the present scale and pattern of Beihai Park. In 1925, the park was first opened to the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.
On top of the Jade Flowery Islet, the White Dagoba was built in 1651 on the former site of the Palace in the Moon where Kublai Khan received Marco Polo. At the suggestion of a famous Tibetan lama, Emperor Shunzhi, the first emperor of the Qing Dynasty agreed to build such a Tibetan dagoba to show his belief in Buddhism and his desire for the unification among various Chinese ethnic groups. The White Dagoba was destroyed in an earthquake and reconstructed twice. Now, resting on a huge stone base, it stands 35.9 meters (about 118 feet) high and is capped by two bronze umbrella-like canopies, with 14 bronze bells hanging around them. Inside, the dagoba holds the Buddhist Scriptures, the monk's mantle and alms bowl and two pieces of Sarira. Since the White Dagoba is the highest point in Beihai Park, it served as a vantage point with a beautiful view of the whole park.
In front of the White Dagoba is the White Dagoba Temple. There are several other buildings and halls you could visit if you have enough time. These include Zhengjue Hall, the Bell and Drum Towers, the Stone Tablets of 'Qiongdao Chunyin' (means the beautiful scenery of the Jade Flowery Islet in spring; inscribed by Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty) etc, all scattered on the slope of the Qionghua Islet.
Hao Pu Creek (Haopujian) Garden
After touring the Qionghua Islet, you can cross the Zhishan Bridge to the Eastern Shore Scenic Area which has many independent gardens within Beihai Park such as the Painted Boat (Huafang) Studio and the Hao Pu Creek Garden.
Created in 1757, the Hao Pu Creek Garden is one of the best gardens-within-gardens of the existing imperial gardens in China. 'Hao' and 'Pu' were the ancient names of two rivers in Anhui Province. There is a story that goes like this: in the Warring States Period (475 - 221 B.C.), Zhuangzi and Huizi (two famous philosophers of ancient China) argued with each other on the bridge over the Hao River. Zhuangzi said: 'How happy are the fish in the river!' Huizi responded: 'You are not a fish. Then how can you know whether the fish are happy or not?' Zhuangzi answered: 'You are not me. Then how can you know that I don't know the happiness of the fish?' This story inspired Emperor Qianlong to build the Hao Pu Creek Garden to seek happiness and relaxation as free as fish in the river. So the garden is designed for tranquility and happiness, featuring a special mountain-water structure to give the impression of a deep valley which gives seclusion from society.
Nine-Dragon Screen
To the northwest lies the well-known Nine-Dragon Screen, which is the only screen having nine huge dragons on both sides among the most famous three Nine-Dragon Screens in China (the other two are respectively in the Forbidden City and Datong, Shanxi Province). Built in 1756, the Nine-Dragon Screen is about 27 meters (about 88.6 feet) long, 6.65 meters (about 21.8 feet) high and 1.42 meters (4.66 feet) thick. It is composed of 424 seven-color glazed tiles that embossing the screen. There are nine huge coiling dragons on each side of the screen and big or small dragons in different postures decorating the two ends and the eaves, making a surprising total of 635 dragons. Even after 200 years, the Nine-Dragon Screen is still bright in color and complete in appearance, showing the high techniques of Chinese arts and crafts in ancient times.
Beautiful Billy, thank you. I assume the dates are not Chinese calendar.
Nowadays everything is crazy
cars on car
That's is good way to save cost
cars on car
That's is good way to save cost
Until one of those straps lets go.
China doesn't have OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), I take it.
Then again, one of my crazier patients is a licensed OSHA safety inspector.
Then again, one of my crazier patients is a licensed OSHA safety inspector.
Gee, thanks for making us all feel safe.
At least I'm safe at home for the weekend.
:D
Hi guys, Billy is coming back from other planet. :-)
On 13rd, October I went to Sagunt, Spain.
Sagunto (Valencian Sagunt; Latin Saguntum) is an ancient city in Eastern Spain, in the modern fertile district of Camp de Morvedre in the province of Valencia. It is located in a hilly site, c. 30 km north of Valencia, close to the Costa del Azahar on the Mediterranean Sea.
Old tower, new tech
It is the highest place in the small city. The Roman people never knew that the telecommunication company invaded their city now.
Inside & outside old city
From the relique, it was a grande city in that age. After centuries, inside & outside are different now. Carriages into automobiles, stone hoses into cement buildings, candle into bulbs...
The blue ocean is Mediterranean Sea
During the 5th century BC, the Celtiberian built a walled settlement on the hill overseeing the plain; a stretch of cyclopean limestone slabs from the former temple of Diana, survives, close to the modern church of Santa Maria, but the settlement site is still older. The city traded with Greek and Phoenician coastal colonies, and under their influence, minted its own coins. During this period the city was known as Arse (Ripollès i Alegre 2002). By 219 BC Saguntum was a large and commercially prosperous town, which sided with the local Greek colonists and Rome against Carthage, and drew Hannibal's first assault, his siege of Saguntum, the opening move of the Second Punic War. After a harsh resistance of several months, related by the Roman historian Livy, Saguntum was captured in 219 by the armies of Hannibal.
Hispania was not meekly pacified and Romanized, as the Iberian career of Quintus Sertorius makes clear. Saguntum minted coins under his protection, and continued to house a mint when, as Roman Saguntum, it was rebuilt and flourished with the rank of municipium. This later prosperity lasted most of the empire through, and is attested by inscriptions and ruins (notably a theater, demolished by Napoleon's marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet, who also destroyed the Roman tower of Hercules). With the Arian Visigothic kings, Saguntum received its Catholic patron saint, a bishop named Sacerdos, who died peacefully of natural causes about AD 560. In the early 8th century, as part of the Caliphate of Cordoba the city reached a new age of splendor, with baths, palaces, mosques and schools for its cosmopolitan population. Then, the town was known as Morvedre (Morviedro in Spanish), a word derived from Latin muri veteres "ancient walls." However, as Valencia grew, Saguntum declined. In 1098 it was briefly reconquered by El Cid, although the definitive reconquest waited until 1238, under Jaime I of Aragon.
Saguntum was badly damaged in warfare, but has retained many Valencian Gothic structures. In the late 19th century, a steel-making industry grew up that supports the modern city, which extends in the coastal plain below the citadel hill.
Sagunt is a samll quiet town, close to Valencia, Spain
The houses were reconstructed in the neoteric and detroyed.
There are lots of similar narrow streets in Spain. Actually, it is unconvenient to live in the uphill houses. I saw that one old lady can't breathe after shopping to home. Most people moved to the high buildings on the plat ground. Some houses are with the label "Se Venta" (For sale).
Hey Billy, welcome back!
We sending you Christmas cards again this year? Warn me in plenty of time if we are, I didn't keep your address.
I love Valencia, but your shots a testament to the fact you can find the unfamiliar in (what to me is) familiar. It's a talent.
Hi Billy. Business or pleasure trip?
I will stay here for several months. Please drop me a line if you come to Spain.
I guess that I will have a Chrsitmas in Europe this year. I am not sure that I can recieve your cards here if oyu send me. I will give you a message soon.
Would anyone like take me to your family for a xmas? heehee
I have lots of photos from my trips but the problem is that I cant access internet in my room. Try to post here as much as I can.
You'd be more than welcome to ours for Christmas!
(seriously)
The challenge in taking photos in Japanese cities is getting far enough away from something to get it in shot. Often the best way is to find your subject reflected in something else.
This first one is in Nagoya:
[ATTACH]15579[/ATTACH]
This one is in Tokyo:
[ATTACH]15580[/ATTACH]
The other option is to pay to go to the top of something very tall. This was taken from the towers in the shot above. I can't help wondering what's going to happen here when the next "big one" hits Tokyo...
[ATTACH]15581[/ATTACH]
I escaped from the friendly jokes to Hangzhou for one day. The Xihu -- West Lake was very beautiful in the spring. I will come back one day.
White blossoms make the peak green leavies younger.
Red blossoms match the green leavies
The wild flowers alao tried to show their beauty.
When the snow melts, the spring comes to us. It doesn’t snow often in the South China except for last winter. We see that the Spring comes to our eyes when the flowers bloom.
Now it is out super star – the West Lake. Hangzhou is beautiful for the West Lake and around hills.
Arch Bridge
In one old Chinese Story, the fairy happened to meet one handsome scholastic and they fell in love with each other. Now many people come here to try some good lucks.
The fairy was enjailed in the pagoda because she married the people and disobeyed some rules.
It would be super cool to enjoy the local tea in the boat cafeteria.
There is the Zhejiang Museum free from admission beside the lake. It collectes some local historical cultural relics.
Jade Eared Gold He – Golden Vessel. 770 – 476 BC. After more than two thousands years, it’s still very shining.
Kwan-yin is the super idol of my mother. She worships Kwan-yin to give me a safe trip before I leave home every time. The fine embroiders can be seen on the clothes.
Bodhisattva
You're a poet as well as an artist!
Lovely to see more pictures from you Billy - always appreciated
Glad to hear you got a vacation, Billy! How's the new job going?
Thank for your conerns. Everything is fine here. I have come back over a month. Now stay in Shanghai. Please let me know if you come here one day.
Glad you're doing well, Billy. We've missed your pictures but we've missed you even more.
What was the Jade Eared Gold He used for? For royalty? For rich people? For clergy? For special ceremonies or special dinners, rather than everyday, I guess.
Welcome back Billy! I've missed you and your fine pictures of China, a land I unfortunately know little about.
I hope to visit there one day.
Glad you're doing well, Billy. We've missed your pictures but we've missed you even more.
What was the Jade Eared Gold He used for? For royalty? For rich people? For clergy? For special ceremonies or special dinners, rather than everyday, I guess.
Thank you a lot.
There was not more information for the vessel in the musem. It was found from one rich people's tomb. Probably it was for wine drinking or for religionary ceremony.
Sky - very nice, can we have a caption?
Billy - any word on the Games, the Free Tibet movement or any of that? Or best for you to steer clear?
We're doing a lot of work with the British Chinese community on the handover (of the cultural Olympiad in September) so I'm immersed in it at present. except I can't claim a balanced viewpoint as they are all ex-pats.
Lobby of the Gerding Theater at the Armory
128 NW Eleventh Ave at Davis St
Portland, Oregon 97209
United States
The Gerding Theater at the Armory has been awarded the LEED Platinum designation from the US Green Building Council, the highest sustainable design award available for a building in the United States. With this award it becomes the first building on the National Register of Historic Places to achieve Platinum status. It is also the first performing arts facility, and the first historic building on the west coast, to be so designated.
http://www.gerdingedlen.com/project.php?id=66
![here]("http://thenonist.com/images/uploads/RIJKMUSEUM-AMSTERDAM.jpg"){kind=link}
![here]("http://thenonist.com/images/uploads/HANDELINGENKAMER-TWEEDE-KAM.jpg"){kind=link}